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)
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Hilton Head Island, SC, June 22: It was a finish that Webb Simpson will cherish as he zipped past his rivals on a crowded leader board with five birdies in last seven holes to grab the title at the RBC Heritage field celebrated another victory on Father’s Day, this time with a tartan jacket.
His final round of 7-under 64 saw him complete a one-shot victory over Abraham Ancer on a day, which saw more than two, and half hour weather delay.
Simpson ran off five birdies in a six-hole stretch on the back nine at Harbour Town and closed with a 7-under 64 for a one-shot victory over Abraham Ancer. His 22-under 262 was a record score at Harbour Town, breaking by two the tournament record set by Brian Gay in 2009.
Final Leaderboard: RBC Heritage
Following a weather delay of two hours and 35 minutes Simpson was not just trying to beat his rivals, but also daylight, which was fast fading. “Honestly, the last kind of 10 holes were a blur because guys are making birdies, we’re trying to finish before night comes,” Simpson said. “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.”
This was the second time Simpson won a title on Father’s Day, which usually sees the US Open. In 2012, Simpson won the U.S. Open at Olympic Club and this time, with the schedules having been re-worked, the RBC Heritage was played this week and Simpson made it memorable. Interestingly, Simpson has also won on Mother’s Day, when topped THE PLAYERS Championship in 2018.
It was also the second win of the season for Simpson, who is a father of five.
With low scores being the norm this week, Simpson may well have been seen as ‘out of it’ as he was just two-under for the day after 11 holes and 17-under for thee tournament. “I didn’t get it going until 12 and then the putts started going in and I started getting confident. It’s amazing to be standing here right now,” said Simpson, who won the Waste Management Phoenix Open in February.
Simpson also moves to No. 5 in the world and to the top of the FedExCup standings.
Ancer hit all 18 greens in regulation and tied for the lead with a courageous shot over the trees to the par-5 15th for a two-putt birdie. He then had a birdie on the 17thand shot 65.
Simpson’s only birdies on the front nine were on the par 5s. Then he found the rhythm, as he rolled in birdie putts from 10 feet and 20 feet on the 12th and 13th, before a two-putt for birdie on 15th. Two more birdies from 15 feet and 18 feet sealed the win.
Winner at Charles Schwab Challenge last week, Daniel Berger also stayed in the hunt by chipping in for birdie on the 17th and closing with a 65. Tyrrell Hatton, whose last tournament was his victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational was leading until a poor tee shot led to bogey on the 13thand could not recover from that. He shot 66 and tied for third.
Dylan Frittelli had the low score of a tournament, a 62 that gave him the lead till the final groups started pouring in. Justin Thomas had a 63 and tied him. Both knew it wasn’t going to hold up, especially after returning from a storm delay to still conditions and even softer conditions.
Brooks Koepka had his moment when he hit driver on the 331-yard ninth hole that hit on the slope above the bunker and stopped 3 feet short for an eagle. He birdied the next two to get within one of the lead. But a 5-foot birdie putt miss on the par-5 15thsaw his chances take a hit and he carded 65 and finished seventh.
Rory McIlroy closed with a 70 and tied for 41st, the second straight start he has been out of Top 30 after seven consecutive events inside Top-5.
The next event is the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.
The PGA Tour action shifts to RBC Heritage in South Carolina this week.
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