Webb Simpson Wins RBC Heritage

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA – JUNE 21: Webb Simpson of the United States celebrates with the trophy and the plaid jacket after winning during the final round of the RBC Heritage on June 21, 2020 at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Webb Simpson fired a tournament record 22-under to capture the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links in the PGA TOUR‘s second event back since its shutdown.

This was Simpson’s second PGA TOUR victory this season, following his win at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in February. He moves to No. 5 in the world rankings and the top spot in the FedEx Cup standings.

“The last kind of ten holes were a blur because guys are making birdies, we’re trying to finish before night comes, and so to finish with five birdies like that was really special, especially after going kind of yesterday and the first 10 holes, 11 holes today not making putts,” Simpson said. “To see the putts go in when I needed them, that was really fun to see the ball going in the hole.”

There was a three weather delay and Simpson was two shots out of the lead when play resumed.

“I think it’s a good thing that guys were making birdies because they kind of forced me to be a little more aggressive and know that pars weren’t going to cut it,”Simpson said.

This was Simpson’s second victory on Father’s Day, following his U.S. Open triumph at the Olympic Club in 2012. When the U.S. Open was postponed until September due to the coronavirus pandemic, the RBC Heritage was put in the Father’s Day weekend slot.

“I won the THE PLAYERS on Mother’s Day after my dad passed away, and that was really special, especially it had been 3 1/2, 4 1/2 years since I won,” Simpson said. “That was an emotional win. U.S. Open on Father’s Day, I’ll never forget calling my dad after on the way to the press conference, and when he picked up the phone, he just was laughing. That’s kind of what he did when he was happy, he would just laugh. So I’m going to miss that laugh today for sure. But I thought a lot about him.”

Simpson topped Abraham Ancer by one shot for the win. Ancer hit all 18 greens in regulation en route to a closing round of 65.

“I probably had one of my best ball striking weeks in my career. So that’s nice. I gave myself a lot of chances. It will eventually go in in bunches, hopefully. Today there were some that I really thought they were going in and they just decided not to,” Ancer said. “Big props to Webb. He played amazing down the stretch, especially in the end.”

Colonial champion Daniel Berger was in the mix to the end as his final round 65 including a chip-in birdie on No. 17 to get to 20-under.

“All in all, it was a solid week,” Berger said. “It’s tough to come off of a win and play well. I’m proud of myself for hanging in there for that long.”

Brooks Koepka shot a final round 65 that put him at 18-under for the week. His final round included an eagle on No. 9 where he drove the 329-yard par-4 and converted the eagle putt.

“I was trying to get to 21. That was the goal, but I didn’t putt very well today. It was as disappointing of a 65 I guess I could have,” Koepka said.

Justin Thomas made the cut on the number and after a final round 63, he was the leader in the clubhouse at 17-under.

“I didn’t scoreboard watch today,” Thomas said. “I got so wrapped up in who was where last week and what I needed to get to and what I thought I needed to get to instead of just going out and trying to make birdies, which is what I feel like I do best, and that’s what I did today.”

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy’s final round 70 put him in a tie for 41st. This was McIlroy’s first time to play in Hilton Head since his lone appearance in 2009 and likely his last for the foreseeable future.

“Once I got here and I played the golf course, I sort of remembered why I haven’t been here for a while,” McIlroy said. “It’s tough. Like it’s a lovely place. There’s other courses on TOUR that probably fit my game a little bit better, and obviously the week after the Masters is always a tough one. Guys like to come here and decompress, but my idea of decompression is not seeing golf clubs for a week.”

Next up on the PGA TOUR is the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands. The stacked field includes nine of the top 10 in the world rankings.

 

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