During the second stage of the 2008 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament in Texas, turned himself in for accidentally using a prototype golf ball not approved for competition by the United States Golf Association, resulting in disqualification. "It's extremely disappointing," he said. "I keep thinking I'm going to wake up and this is going to be a bad nightmare." The move by Hayes triggered national attention for his honesty and integrity.

Upon winning first TOUR title in 1998, said, "More than the money, to me that exemption means the most. For the first time in a lot of years I won't have to fill out that application for qualifying school."

Played his college golf at the University of Texas-El Paso.