Webb Simpson hadn’t won on the PGA Tour since the 2013 Shriners Hospitals For Children Open, but on Sunday at The Players Championship, his victory was all but wrapped up before he put a tee in the ground.
Leading by seven shots, Simpson did exactly what he needed to do on Sunday — play a solid round of golf — and force those back in the pack to do something truly special to chase him down. While runs were made by the likes of Tiger Woods, Brooks Koepka and Jimmy Walker among others, no one got closer than four shots all day.
The winning putt @THEPLAYERSChamp.
A huge victory for @WebbSimpson1! ?#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/gBAVITev4r
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 13, 2018
Playing the 18th hole with a six-shot cushion, Simpson was able to keep his score in single digits on the hole making a double-bogey six after hitting his approach into the water that guards the left side of the hole. Simpson signed for a 1-over par 73 to claim the second-biggest victory of his career behind the 2012 U.S. Open.
“Man, it means everything to me,” Simpson said. “I feel like it’s my first win. I feel so similar to how I felt in Greensboro back in 2011. You know, to win a major championship and a few other Tour events and then go, I guess it’s over four years without a win, I never doubted myself, but at the same time, that’s a long time.
“We train hard and practice hard to try to win, and there’s been some tough moments along the way, as I’ve shared with you guys this week, but to come here against this field and put up some good numbers the first three days and do what I needed to do today to get it done, I’m so happy.”
What a win for Webb. ?#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/JsaPZuXi3S
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 13, 2018
The win netted Simpson a $1.98 million winning check, 600 FedEx Cup and the ability to add his name to the elite list of players who have won both the U.S. Open and The Players Championship: Tiger Woods, Martin Kaymer, Lee Janzen, Tom Kite, Ray Floyd, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and Jerry Pate.
What made the win extra special for Simpson was to win on Mother’s Day.
“With my dad passing away in November, it’s been about seven months, and to go through what she’s gone through, losing him earlier than we all expected, I think she’s been maybe even more invested in my golf than before, which is hard to do because she’s so invested before,” Simpson said. “But you know, to be on Mother’s Day, and I know how much she prays for me and pulls for me and watches every putt and screams when I make long putts and hit good shots, I thought about her a lot today, and I knew she was watching every shot.
“It was for her, for sure.”
