Simpson hits shot into spectator’s lap on 18
Just as he readied to putt his ball on 13, Webb Simpson endured a familiar scene. The wind blew, the ball moved and Simpson lost a stroke. No championship was at stake, unlike a month ago. Instead, it was just one penalty stroke in an otherwise excellent round.
It also wasn’t the oddest shot of his day. That belonged to a sliced tee shot on the par-4 18th. That shot landed … in a spectator’s lap.
And that was a first.
“I’ve never had a ball end up in somebody’s lap,” said Simpson, who hit a tree on his follow-through but still parred the hole. “It reminded me of ‘Happy Gilmore.’ It ended up being a good break, just to the right of trees. So the rough there wasn’t high. It was laid down.”
It was the sort of break Simpson has started to make for himself on tour. Though he hasn’t won in his two-plus years on tour, he does have 10 top-10 finishes, including four this year. He’s considered a potential star by some and owns two runner-up finishes since March.
And the U.S. Open rookie continues to show flashes of stellar play, as he did Saturday with a 5-under 66.
This after opening rounds of 75 and 71. Simpson went from bogeying his first three holes of the tournament Thursday to birdieing seven holes Saturday.
“I started making better shots, more fairways,” he said. “When you give yourself 10 or 11 times in the fairway and greens are soft, you’re going to have plenty of birdie opportunities.”
What didn’t work was getting penalized another stroke for a rule that bit him at the Zurich Classic on May 2. Then, Simpson lost a stroke on the 15th hole of the final round when a gust of wind moved his ball. His putter was a good six inches behind the ball, but Simpson called a penalty on himself, which proved costly when the tournament ended in a playoff. He lost in the playoff.
On Saturday, he recovered with two birdies in the final five holes.
“We’ve been through this too many times, hadn’t we?” he said. “It was unfortunate, but it really made me committed to try to finish strong.”
The U.S. Golf Association and the Royal & Ancient, who jointly govern the rules, reportedly will consider changing the rule. For now, though, it serves as another lesson for Simpson.
“One thing I’ve learned being in contention a couple of times, experience is just everything,” he said. “And I feel a little more comfortable every time I get in contention or every time I’m trying to make a birdie to make a cut.
“Last year I thought I was a better player and I wasn’t. The results weren’t showing at all. But I kept growing, so I think this year has been good to see that come to fruition.”
