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A20 SPORTS
Monday 14 May 2018
Simpson completes a big win at Players Championship
By DOUG FERGUSON ing, and I was able to get gin through three rounds.
AP Golf Writer it done.” Brooks Koepka became
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. Justin Thomas left the TPC the eighth player with a 63
(AP) — Webb Simpson Sawgrass as the No. 1 play- on Sunday, which featured
navigated his way through er in the world. He closed an albatross 2 on the par-5
a few mistakes but not too with a 66 to tie for 11th, 16th.
much stress to win The Play- more than enough to end And there 1,754 birdies for
ers Championship on Sun- Dustin Johnson’s 15-month the week, breaking by 136
day. reign at the top of the rank- the record from 1996.
Staked to a seven-shot ing. Thomas is the 21st play- But this ultimately was all
lead, no one got closer er to reach No. 1 since the about Simpson, who had
than four shots of Simpson, ranking began in 1986, and missed the cut in four of
even after a double bo- the seventh American. his previous eight appear-
gey on the 18th hole when “I’m very proud to have ances at the TPC Sawgrass
his only concern was fin- gotten there, but it means and had gone 107 starts on
ishing the hole at the TPC more to me how long I can the PGA Tour since his most
Sawgrass. He closed with hold it,” Thomas said in a recent victory in Las Vegas
a 1-over 73 for a four-shot text message. toward the end of 2013.
victory, his biggest title Jimmy Walker closed with He had struggled from the
since the 2012 U.S. Open at a bogey-free 67 and tied start of 2016, when golf’s
Olympic Club. for second with Charl ruling bodies outlawed
Tiger Woods made an- Schwartzel and Xander the anchored stroke that
other big run that revved Schauffele, who also shot Simpson used for his belly
up the crowd and revived 67s. Walker, who struggled putter. He had gone to
hopes that he was close all of last year with Lyme a longer handle that ran
to winning. So did Jason disease, had his best finish up the left side of his arm,
Dufner, Jimmy Walker and since he won the 2016 PGA and then Tim Clark gave
Danny Lee. None could do Championship. him the missing link. It was
enough to catch Simpson Woods made the cut on at The Players a year ago
during record scoring at Webb Simpson kisses the The Players Championship trophy, the number — helped by when Clark suggested he
Sunday, May 13, 2018, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
the final Players Champion- Associated Press Thomas and Jordan Spieth also use a claw grip, and
ship in May. with a double bogey, but lot harder than I thought,” making bogey on the 18th Simpson had been working
His only big mistake didn’t that only made the final Simpson said. “It’s hard to hole Friday — got back to his way back to golf he ex-
even matter. Simpson’s ap- margin closer than what it stay motivated to continue the first page of the lead- pects to play.
proach to the 18th bound- really was. to do what I’ve been do- erboard with a 65 on Sat- “It’s pretty special that a
ed across the green and “Being in that position is a ing. I had a good morn- urday and ran off six bird- year later, I got this victory,”
into the water. He closed ies through 12 holes in the he said.
final round. He was tied To win it on Mother’s Day
for second at one point, nearly brought him to tears.
still four shots behind, but Simpson lost his father in
that was as close he got. November, and it was the
Woods made a soft bogey first time his mother was
on the 14th hole when he without him in North Caro-
missed the green with a lina. Simpson said it has
sand wedge, and was well been hard on her, along
short of the island green in with his siblings.
making double bogey on “It’s been a tough few
No. 17. He shot 69 and tied months for my mom, my
for 11th. “I hit the ball better brothers and sisters,” Simp-
today than I did yesterday, son said as his voice began
and I obviously didn’t end to crack. “This is a little bea-
up with the score I needed con of light for my mom, to
to,” Woods said. get this done on Mother’s
The final edition of May Day.”
was one for the record Simpson won for the fifth
books. Simpson tied the time and moves to No. 20
course record with a 63 in in the world.
the second round when he The rest of the tournament
seized control — even with would have been plenty
a double bogey from the exciting had Simpson de-
water on the 17th — and cided to call in sick for work
he tied Greg Norman’s 54- this week. At one point,
hole record from 1994 at Dufner made a birdie to
19-under 197. Simpson set a break out of a 10-way tie
record for the largest mar- for third place.q
linda.reijnders@cspnv.com
