Webb Simpson co-leads, wants money title
SEA ISLAND, Ga. – Webb Simpson missed a chance to win an extra $10 million a couple of weeks ago in Atlanta after feeling a bit run down from a long stretch of golf in which he seemed to be contending every week. Now, after two weeks away he feels rested as he chases two other prizes – No. 1 on the U.S. PGA Tour money list and the possibility of being chosen as the tour’s player of the year.Simpson carded eight birdies and a lone bogey on his way to a 7 under par 63 and shared the first round of the McGladrey Classic with tour rookie Zach Miller. They lead by one from Scott McCarron, Martin Pillar and Billy Horschel. Louis Oosthuizen, Angel Cabrera, Nick O’Hern and Ben Crane, who’s wife Heather is expecting the couples' third child on Monday, are all among 10 players another shot back.
“I'm just rested and my body is in better shape rather than Atlanta where I was pretty tired,” Simpson said following his round. “That being said, I had a fresh mind and played well, kept the ball in front of me, and I think more than anything, I just kind of took advantage of the holes where I hit it close and birdied the par-5s. I didn't quite realize I made eight birdies until the end, but overall it was a pretty easy, breezy day.”
Simpson finished T12 here last year when he was in a fight to simply retain his playing rights for this season. Now, he has already secured his card for three more years as a result of earning wins in Greensboro and near Boston and has much loftier goals.
He entered the week needing to finish, at worst, in a tie for 15th to surpass World No. 1 Luke Donald on the U.S. money list. Donald was hoping to become the first player to ever win the money title on both the U.S. and European Tours. Donald has a substantial lead in the Race to Dubai in Europe, and it is doubtful he can be caught. The U.S. title is very much up for grabs.
And Simpson makes no bones about the fact that it is on his mind.
“You know, when guys say they block it out, I mean, I don't -- there's no way I can go play this golf tournament without thinking about the money title,” he said. “I'm thinking about it every day. But I'm not over a shot thinking this is the money title. It's more I'm just trying my best to get focused on winning the golf tournament as opposed to the money list.
“I mean, if a guy has a goal to win a golf tournament in the following year, he's not going to show up at each tournament saying I've got to win this one,” he added. “Part of the golf process, we've kind of got to let it come to us, let it happen. As soon as I try to make three birdies in a row, it never happens. That in mind, I just try to do as good as I can, and we'll just add it up at the end.”
Miller came into the week after missing his last seven consecutive cuts, and is among a number of players trying to keep their cards and virtually needing a win to do so.
Crane’s caddie is watching his phone for a call from Heather, at which time he would inform Ben and they would be out of the tournament for him to return home for the baby’s delivery.
“Yeah, I've definitely got my mind half here and half at home,” Crane said. “My wife is nine months pregnant, due with a scheduled C-section on Monday. We're keeping in close contact, and if mama calls, we're going to get out of here and go home and have our third child. We're extremely excited.”
Excitement seems to be everywhere on Sea Island. Even if it is a late-season fall series event.
Return to Latest News archives