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GREENSBORO, N.C. — It's been four seasons since Webb Simpson's last Top-10, a T-5 at the 2023 Wyndham Championship. It's also been exactly one year since his last birthday.
He celebrated the latter Saturday with a 5-under 65 that sets him up for a Sunday push to that elusive Top-10 finish. He sandwiched eight birdies between a bogey on No. 1 and a double bogey on 18 Saturday to vault up the leaderboard.
"It felt great to feel the juices a little bit for the first time in a while," said a positive now 41-year-old Simpson following his disappointing final hole. "Hopefully I can get back in it tomorrow."
Simpson finished his round 8-under for the tournament, four behind overnight leader Beau Hossler.
Simpson is back at his favorite course, a place he won in 2011 and where he has 11 Top-11 finishes in 17 appearances. His pair of runner-up finishes and two third-place showings have also launched him atop the all-time money list at the Wyndham, with more than $4 million in prize money.
But since Simpson's last win at the 2020 RBC Heritage, it's been a PGA Tour path marred by injuries and struggles on the course. His best finish in 2026 is a T-18 at the Valspar in March. He's missed five cuts in nine events and withdrew from the Valero Texas Open in April.
The FedEx playoffs aren't on his mind, as not even a win Sunday would propel him from 181st in the standings inside the Top 70.
But on a familiar course near his hometown, the Wake Forest grad was happy to see the old form of himself.
"The game top to bottom just hasn't been great," Simpson said following the double-bogey that dropped him from T-4 to T-15 with much of the field out on the course and the leaders yet to tee off. "I'm working hard on it and not seeing it improve as fast as I want, but I'm making baby steps in the right direction."
Simpson shot a 3-under 32 on the back 9 that would have been much better if not for the dreadful 18th. His tee shot flared way right, hit a fan's cellphone and bounced across the cart path. His second shot went in the left side bunker well short of the green. It took two more shots to reach the green before a two-putt.
It put a damper on the five birdies he had coming home.
"Today I'm just very close to doing this more often," Simpson said. "I've been putting well for a few months, but the ball striking hasn't quite been there. I hit some great approach shots today. Besides the first hole and the last hole, it was a really, really good day."
As for how he'll celebrate his 41st birthday, the Charlotte resident says he'll rest up for Sunday's final round.
"It was a really good birthday there for a little while until 18," Simpson said, "but still 65 in a PGA TOUR event's a great way to spend my birthday."
Ryne Dennis is the Deep South Connect Team Editor for Gannett/USA Today and former sports editor in USA TODAY and the Athens Banner-Herald. Find him on X @RyneDennis and email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Webb Simpson finds his form on his birthday at Wyndham Championship
Continue reading...
He celebrated the latter Saturday with a 5-under 65 that sets him up for a Sunday push to that elusive Top-10 finish. He sandwiched eight birdies between a bogey on No. 1 and a double bogey on 18 Saturday to vault up the leaderboard.
"It felt great to feel the juices a little bit for the first time in a while," said a positive now 41-year-old Simpson following his disappointing final hole. "Hopefully I can get back in it tomorrow."
Simpson finished his round 8-under for the tournament, four behind overnight leader Beau Hossler.
Simpson is back at his favorite course, a place he won in 2011 and where he has 11 Top-11 finishes in 17 appearances. His pair of runner-up finishes and two third-place showings have also launched him atop the all-time money list at the Wyndham, with more than $4 million in prize money.
But since Simpson's last win at the 2020 RBC Heritage, it's been a PGA Tour path marred by injuries and struggles on the course. His best finish in 2026 is a T-18 at the Valspar in March. He's missed five cuts in nine events and withdrew from the Valero Texas Open in April.
The FedEx playoffs aren't on his mind, as not even a win Sunday would propel him from 181st in the standings inside the Top 70.
But on a familiar course near his hometown, the Wake Forest grad was happy to see the old form of himself.
"The game top to bottom just hasn't been great," Simpson said following the double-bogey that dropped him from T-4 to T-15 with much of the field out on the course and the leaders yet to tee off. "I'm working hard on it and not seeing it improve as fast as I want, but I'm making baby steps in the right direction."
Simpson shot a 3-under 32 on the back 9 that would have been much better if not for the dreadful 18th. His tee shot flared way right, hit a fan's cellphone and bounced across the cart path. His second shot went in the left side bunker well short of the green. It took two more shots to reach the green before a two-putt.
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It put a damper on the five birdies he had coming home.
"Today I'm just very close to doing this more often," Simpson said. "I've been putting well for a few months, but the ball striking hasn't quite been there. I hit some great approach shots today. Besides the first hole and the last hole, it was a really, really good day."
As for how he'll celebrate his 41st birthday, the Charlotte resident says he'll rest up for Sunday's final round.
"It was a really good birthday there for a little while until 18," Simpson said, "but still 65 in a PGA TOUR event's a great way to spend my birthday."
Ryne Dennis is the Deep South Connect Team Editor for Gannett/USA Today and former sports editor in USA TODAY and the Athens Banner-Herald. Find him on X @RyneDennis and email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Webb Simpson finds his form on his birthday at Wyndham Championship
Continue reading...
