Webb Simpson Claims Narrow Victory at RBC Heritage

American Webb Simpson claimed a one-shot victory over Abraham Ancer in the rain-delayed event.

The victory is his second in only four starts, and moves the American to the top of the FedEx Cup standings.

Final Round Overview

Starting the day in a four-way tie for the lead, Simpson would birdie the second hole from the greenside bunker before play was halted for over two-and-a-half hours due to the threat of lightning. When they returned, the 34-year-old would only birdie one more hole on the front nine, the par-five fifth, putting him two shots off the lead.

Starting the back nine with consecutive pars, Simpson produced an unbelievable finish which included five birdies in the last seven holes, setting a target of -22 for the last group; Tyrrell Hatton and Abraham Ancer. His closest challenger, Ancer, had birdied the 15th and 17th but was unable to find another at the last to force a play-off, eventually closing with a six-under 65.

Last week’s winner Daniel Berger and Englishman Hatton finished a further stroke back, despite Hatton leading going into the back nine. Hatton, who was looking for his second win in three starts, had fired an eight-under 63 on Saturday to race up the leaderboard and, with four birdies in the first six holes, it looked like he would be adding another title to his season.

Another birdie at 12 kept him ahead, before a bogey on the 13th produced a two shot swing with Simpson. A birdie at 16 gave him a chance, but two pars on the last two holes saw him finish T3 with Berger. Hatton, who was looking for his second win in three starts, had fired an eight-under 63 on Saturday to race up the leaderboard and, with four birdies in the first six holes, it looked like he would be adding another title to his season. Another birdie at 12 kept him ahead, before a bogey on the 13th produced a two shot swing with Simpson. A birdie at 16 gave him a chance, but two pars on the last two holes saw him finish T3 with Berger.

Notable Finishes

Spain’s Sergio Garcia made five birdies in a seven-hole run from the 11th to match Chilean Joaquin Niemann’s final-round 65. Both finished tied in fifth place. Brooks Koepka produced the best finish of his injury-hit season as he finished four shots back in seventh spot.

The best rounds of the day came from Dylan Frittelli and Justin Thomas who both made serious moves on Sunday, jumping 39 and 28 positions respectively. Frittelli had started the day low down on the leaderboard, but a back nine of 29 saw the South African finish as the clubhouse leader at one point, before the last few groups had finished their rounds. Thomas, on the other hand, was placed T101 after Thursday’s action, but rounds of 66, 66 and 63 catapulted the American into a tie for eighth and his seventh Top 10 finish for the season.

World Number 1, Rory McIlroy, finished a disappointing T41 and, afterwards, said: “Once I got here and I played the golf course, I sort of remembered why I haven’t been here for a while. “Like it’s a lovely place but there are other courses on Tour that probably fit my game a little bit better.”

We hope you enjoyed the article ‘Webb Simpson Claims Narrow Victory at RBC Heritage.’ What did you make of Webb Simpson’s performance? Let us know!

Read more on golf here:

• Daniel Berger Claims Colonial Thriller
• Five Golfers to Look Out For in 2020
• The Best Players To Have Never Won A Major: Part 1
• What Was The Reason For Anthony Kim’s Disappearance?