Golf IQ Open Championship Player Guide - 2021

Webb Simpson (bio)

Webb Simpson Bio - (C) GOLFstats Inc. 2020

Simpson is the son of Evander Samuel "Sam" Simpson III and Debbie Webb Simpson. He is the fifth of six children. Grew up playing against Brendon Todd, another 2009 PGA Tour rookie, during their youth in the Raleigh, N.C. area. Member of the victorious 2007 U.S. Walker Cup team that defeated Great Britain and Ireland at Royal County Down in Newcastle, Northern Ireland. Also a member of the Palmer Cup team that year. Won the 2007 Southern Amateur at Pinehurst and the Dogwood Amateur in Atlanta. Attended the same high school (Broughton) and college (Wake Forest) as current PGA Tour Champions player Scott Hoch. Semifinalist at the 2006 U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine National. Turned professional in June 2008 and finished T-64th in his professional debut at the Stanford St. Jude Championship. Played eight events on the Korn Ferry Tour with two runner-up finishes, including a playoff loss to Arjun Atwal at the Chattanooga Classic. Finished T-7th at PGA Tour Q-School to earn his PGA Tour card for 2009. Member of the 2011 '13 and '19 U.S. Presidents Cup and 2012 '14 and '18 U.S. Ryder Cup teams.

2011 Notes: Posted two PGA Tour wins and finished 2nd in the FedExCup standings and the money list. Made 23 of 26 cuts, with 21 top-25 finishes and 12 top-10s. Three runner-up finishes included playoff losses to Bubba Watson at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and Ben Crane at the McGladrey Classic. Won the Wyndham Championship in his home state of North Carolina by three strokes over George McNeill. Defeated Chez Reavie in a playoff to win the Deutsche Bank Championship. Had a $363,029 lead over Luke Donald going into the last event of the year at Disney, but Donald won the Children's Miracle Network Hospital and the money title. Simpson finished 2nd. Made the largest one-season earnings jump in PGA Tour history when he went from $972,962 in 2010 to $6,683,214, an increase of $5,374,391. One of six rookies on the U.S. Presidents Cup team that posted a 3-2-0 record for the victorious squad.

2012 Notes: Entered final round of the U.S. Open trailing Jim Furyk and Graeme McDowell by four strokes, and carded a two-under 68 to finish one-over-par 281, good enough for a one-stroke win over McDowell and Michael Thompson. It was Simpson's first major title. Joined Jack Fleck, Billy Casper, Scott Simpson and Lee Janzen as come-from-behind winners of the five U.S. Opens held at The Olympic Club. After two early bogeys, tallied three consecutive birdies at Nos. 6-8 and another at No. 10 before closing with eight pars to capture the title. Making the year more joyous, his wife gave birth to their second child, Willow Grace, on July 28. Did not play at the British Open due to the happy occasion. Finished 2-2 in his first Ryder Cup appearance for the U.S. team. Lost 2 & 1 to Ian Poulter in his singles match, as the European team won the biennial competition.

2013 Notes: Finished T-6th at the Northern Trust Open for his first top-10 performance of the season. His second came the following week at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, where he finished T-5th after losing to defending champion Hunter Mahan, 1-up, in the quarterfinals. Fell to 1-3 in playoffs when he missed a seven-foot putt on the first playoff hole at the RBC Heritage, giving Graeme McDowell the victory. The runner-up finish was the fourth of his career, with the previous three all coming in 2011. Also finished in the top-10 at the Travelers Championship (T-5th) and the Tour Championship (4th). Finished the year 11th in the FedExCup race and 20th on the money list. Turned in a 2-1-2 record in five Presidents Cup matches during the three-point U.S. triumph over the International team.

2014 Notes: Started the year on the right foot with a win at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, his first title since his U.S. Open victory. Added top-10s with a T-7th at the McGladrey Classic, T-3rd at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, 10th at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, T-9th at the WGC-Accenture Match Play, T-3rd at the FedEx St. Jude Classic, 3rd at the Greenbrier Classic, and T-5th at the Wyndham Championship. After missing the cut at The Barclays, he opened with a five-under-par 66 at the Deutsche Bank Championship and finished T-9th, six strokes behind champion Chris Kirk in the second FedExCup playoffs event. Later added a T-53rd at the BMW Championship to advance to the Tour Championship at East Lake G.C., where he finished T-23rd. Ended the year 25th in the FedExCup rankings and 17th on the money list. Was one of Tom Watson's Ryder Cup captain's picks, and he went 0-1-1 in his two matches in the European victory.

2015 Notes: Finished T-4th in defending his title at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Four rounds in the 60s were highlighted by a second-round 65. Made a late charge with birdies at holes 13, 15 and 17, and an eagle-3 at 16. Finished T-7th at the Humana Challenge on the strength of a closing 64. Finished T-7th in his third start at the WGC-Cadillac Championship and T-2nd at the Wells Fargo Championship. Had a T-6th at the Wyndham Championship. Placed 48th in the FedExCup standings and 43rd on the money list.

2016 Notes: Got his first top-10 with a T-3rd at the Dean & DeLuca, followed by his second top-10, a 6th-place finish at the Quicken Loans National. Finished 84th in the FedExCup standings, the first time since 2010 that he failed to advance past the first two playoffs events.

2017 Notes: In his seventh start of the season, the Waste Management Phoenix Open, birdied three of the final four holes, getting to 17 under, and waited 40 minutes while Hideki Matsuyama matched his score. Lost on the fourth hole of the playoff when Matsuyama birdied the 17th hole. Finished 5th at the Dean & DeLuca Invitational and T-8th at the Travelers Championship. A final-round three-under 67 led to a 3rd-place result at the Wyndham Championship, four strokes behind Henrik Stenson. Advanced to the FedExCup Playoffs for a ninth consecutive season, collecting top-10 showings in two of the four playoffs events (T-6th, Northern Trust and T-9th, BMW Championship). Ended his season ranked 17th in the FedExCup standings.

2018 Notes: Played 26 PGA Tour events, making 23 cuts with nine top-10 finishes. Was 11th in the FedExCup standings. Won The Players Championship by four strokes for his fifth career PGA Tour title in his 250th start. Was tied for the lead after a first-round 66 and broke away from the pack with a second-round 63. Over the weekend, he shot 68-73 to seal the victory. Finished T-4th at the Sony Open in Hawaii, T-5th at the Honda Classic, T-5th at the RBC Heritage, T-8th at the Valspar Championship, T-10th at the U.S. Open, and T-12th at the British Open. Shot a final-round 62 at the Wyndham Championship to finish T-2nd, three strokes behind winner Brandt Snedeker. Posted back-to-back 65s in the final two rounds of the BMW Championship to finish T-6th with Tiger Woods. Was T-4th at the Tour Championship, where he birdied two of his last three holes to finish five shots behind winner Tiger Woods. Played in his third Ryder Cup and finished with a 2-1-0 record for the week. Won his singles match against Justin Rose, 1-up.

2019 Notes: Played in 21 PGA Tour events, making 20 cuts with six top-10 finishes. Ranked 16th in the FedExCup standings. He finished 3rd at The RSM Classic, one stroke out of the Charles Howell III/Patrick Rodgers playoff. Shot a final-round 65 to finish T-8th at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. Shot a third-round 64 and finished T-5th at the Masters, two shots behind winner Tiger Woods. Shot 67-68 over the weekend to finish T-2nd at the RBC Canadian Open, seven strokes behind winner Rory McIlory. Was 2nd at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, three strokes behind winner Brooks Koepka. The next week was 2nd at the Wyndham Championship, a stroke behind winner J.T. Poston. In the FedExCup playoffs, finished T-18th at the Northern Trust, T-24th at the BMW Championship, and T-16th at the Tour Championship. In the Presidents Cup, played in four matches with a 1-3 record. He won his singles match with Byeong Hun An, 2 & 1.

2020 Notes: Played in 14 PGA Tour events, making 12 cuts with eight top-10 finishes. Was 12th in the FedExCup standings. Started the season with a T-7th at the Shriners Hospitals for Children's. At the RSM Classic, he lost on the second hole of a playoff to Tyler Duncan. He finished 3rd at the Sony Open at Hawaii, a stroke behind the Smith/Steele playoff. Won the Waste Management Phoenix Open, edging Tony Finau with a birdie on the first playoff hole. After the break, he missed the cut at the Charles Schwab Challenge, then won the RBC Heritage by a stroke over Abraham Ancer. Finished T-8th at the Rocket Mortgage and T-3rd at the Wyndham Championship, three strokes behind winner Jim Herman. In the FedExCup playoffs, was T-6th at the Northern Trust. At the time, was 3rd in the FedExCup standings and decided to take the BMW Championship off. He didn't play well at the Tour Championship, where he finished T-12th.

2021 Notes: Played in 21 PGA Tour events making 18 cuts with nine top-ten finishes. Was 40th in the FedExCup standings. He finished T-8th at the 2020 U.S. Open, his best result at the event since winning it in 2012. Shot 67-73-71-68 to finish T-10th at the 2020 Masters. Shot a final-round 64 to finish T-4th at the Sony Open in Hawaii, two shots back of winner Kevin Na. Shot 66 in the first round of the WGC-Workday Championship at The Concession to co-lead, shot 69-69-72 to finish T-6th, six shots back of winner Collin Morikawa. Was T-12th at the 2021 Masters and T-9th at the RBC Heritage. Was T-7th at the Wyndham Championship, finishing a shot from the six-man playoff. In the FedExCup Playoffs was T-47th at the Northern Trust and T-12th at the BMW Championship.

2022 Notes: Played in 20 PGA Tour events making 12 cuts with one top-ten finish. Qualified for the FedExCup Playoffs for the 14th consecutive season and finished 131st in the official FedExCup standings, ending the season outside the top 100 for the first time in his career Was T-8th at the RSM Classic. After finishing T-61st at the Sony Open in Hawaii, he returned home. His neck had been bothering him for months since tweaking it hitting balls at Wells Fargo back in May of 2021. He had surgery soon after for a bulging disc and then went through a hard rehab of eight weeks. It was very tedious but he was able to start hitting balls on February 28th and two weeks later was able to play in The Players Championship. He missed the cut but felt pain-free and could play at Valspar (T-48th) and the WGC-Dell Match Play (T-35th). In his first major back from his injury was T-35th at the Masters. Finished T-20th at the PGA Championship. Shot a first-round 66 to co-lead the Charles Schwab Challenge before going on to finish T-27th. Had his best finish coming back from his injury with a T-13th at the Travelers Championship. In the FedExCup playoffs missed the cut at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

2023 Notes: Finished T-7th at the Valspar Championship, his first top-10 on Tour since the 2021 RSM Classic.

- World Rank: 201 - Born: Aug 8, 1985, Raleigh, N.C. - Age: 39y 5m 12d Back to Field

Click on any table column header to sort by that column
Outlook: Even though he has won more events on Bent Greens, feel his game today is suited more for courses with Bermuda. Avoid him on the West Coast after the Hawaiian events and his game tends to go into hibernation after the RBC Heritage, picking up at the U.S. Open.
This Past Year: 2020 was another banner year for him with two wins and just over $5 million in earnings.
Past Performance Results and Statistics
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP (last 10 years) Open Championship Home Page
YearDateCoursePlaceScoreToPar1st2nd3rd4thMoney
2024Jul 21,2024Royal Troon Golf ClubDNP
2023Jul 23,2023Royal Liverpool Golf ClubDNP
2022Jul 17,2022Old Course at St. AndrewsCUT1451717400$0
2021Jul 18,2021Royal St. George's Golf ClubT19276-466726771$109,000
2019Jul 21,2019Royal Portrush G.C.T30284068717174$69,875
2018Jul 22,2018Carnoustie Golf LinksT12281-370716773$154,500
2017Jul 23,2017Royal Birkdale G.C.T37282271747067$45,286
2016Jul 17,2016Royal Troon Golf ClubT39288470727175$37,091
2015Jul 20,2015Old Course at St. AndrewsT40283-570707172$43,480
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP STATS (All)
Played In10
Rounds Played36
Avg Place46
Scoring Avg71.50
Low Round66
Wins0
Top 10s0
Top 25s3

Tournament Record (last 12 months) PGA TOUR Record - European Tour Record
DateNameTourCoursePlaceScoreToPar1st2nd3rd4thMoney
Jan 12,2025Sony Open in HawaiiPGAWaialae C.C.T16269-1166706667$132,675
Nov 24,2024 RSM ClassicPGASeaside CUT1486747400$0
Oct 20,2024Shriners Children's OpenPGATPC SummerlinCUT140-2716900$0
Sep 15,2024Procore Champ PGASilverado C.C. (North)T32281-771706872$34,260
Aug 11,2024Wyndham Champ PGASedgefield Country ClubCUT138-2687000$0
Jun 30,2024Rocket Mortgage ClassicPGADetroit Golf ClubCUT142-2717100$0
Jun 23,2024Travelers Champ PGATPC River HighlandsT48275-572646970$49,286
Jun 16,2024U.S. OpenMAJORPinehurst C.C. (No 2)CUT1488757300$0
May 26,2024Charles Schwab ChallengePGAColonial C.C.T50283369677572$22,234
May 12,2024Wells Fargo Champ PGAQuail Hollow ClubT24285170737171$166,500
Apr 22,2024RBC HeritagePGAHarbour Town G.L.T42279-571706969$76,500
Apr 7,2024Valero Texas OpenPGATPC San Antonio (Oaks )T45287-173677572$26,772
Mar 24,2024Valspar Champ PGAInnisbrook Resort T54285172707172$19,404
Mar 17,2024 Players Champ PGATPC SawgrassCUT1440737100$0
Mar 10,2024Arnold Palmer InvitationalPGABay Hill ClubT30289173717075$123,500
Feb 4,2024AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-AmPGAPebble Beach Golf LinksT39210-67368690$70,125
Tour Statistics (Last 12 Mo)
Events Played16
Rounds Played51
Avg Place61
Scoring Avg70.65
Low Round64
Wins0
Top 10s0
Top 25s2
Recent, Major and Career Results
Events Played Avg Place Wins Top 10s%Top 10 Top 25s%Top 25 Cuts Made%Cuts Made Rds in 60s %Rds in 60sRds Played Rds Undr Par%Rds Undr Par Within 5%Within 5 Scoring Avg Money
Past 12 Months 18 77.78 0 1 5.6% 2 11.1% 8 44.4% 13 25.0% 52 20 38.5% 10 55.6% 71.38 $609,247
All Career Majors 46 45.80 1 5 10.9% 16 34.8% 34 73.9% 32 20.0% 160 55 34.4% 17 37.0% 71.80 $5,107,655
Total Career Results 353 43.15 7 83 23.5% 159 45.0% 266 75.4% 543 45.1% 1205 667 55.4% 161 45.6% 69.90 $44,830,459
Note: All tables can be sorted by column clicking on the column headers. For "avg place", a missed cut or wd counts as a place of 100. "Within 5" is the number of times the player has entered the final round within 5 shots of the lead.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Game: His biggest improvement is putting, after struggling for years and when golf put a ban on putting while anchoring the putter. In 2015 Simpson was 174th on Strokes Gained putting, in 2016 he was 177th. In 2017 he improved to 88th and in 2018 was up to 5th. In 2019 he was steady with the putter ranking 11th and in 2020 was 13th. So this is the reason for his great play.

Frankly there is not many weaknesses in his game and with him turning 36 in 2021 is hitting his peak years. Look for him to continue his great play.

Best and Worst Courses and Tournaments: The Wyndham is his little annuity, in 12 starts has eight top-10s but in his last four starts has finished T-3rd, 2nd, T-2nd and 3rd in 2017. In the last decade in his last 11 starts he is a remarkable 156 under in 44 rounds. Simpson is also good at the Heritage which he won in 2020 and on any short yardage course in which accuracy and shotmaking is needed. Also if you want to take advantage of him early he is always good in the two Hawaiian swing events.

Career Performance per Month
Events Played Avg Place Wins Top 10s%Top 10 Top 25s%Top 25 Cuts Made%Cuts Made Rds in 60s %Rds in 60sRds Played Rds Undr Par%Rds Undr Par Within 5%Within 5 Scoring Avg Money
January 28 30.11 0 9 32.1% 18 64.3% 25 89.3% 74 68.5% 108 88 81.5% 10 35.7% 68.30 $3,370,593
February 31 41.29 1 10 32.3% 14 45.2% 25 80.6% 41 39.8% 103 53 51.5% 12 38.7% 70.00 $4,480,867
March 41 53.34 0 5 12.2% 12 29.3% 27 65.9% 32 27.6% 116 48 41.4% 24 58.5% 71.50 $2,807,293
April 30 43.00 0 4 13.3% 12 40.0% 24 80.0% 30 27.8% 108 53 49.1% 11 36.7% 71.20 $2,790,987
May 36 55.56 1 6 16.7% 13 36.1% 21 58.3% 40 36.4% 110 51 46.4% 22 61.1% 71.10 $5,437,749
June 39 46.33 2 9 23.1% 14 35.9% 28 71.8% 56 41.8% 134 61 45.5% 19 48.7% 70.40 $5,978,220
July 34 46.09 0 6 17.6% 13 38.2% 25 73.5% 48 40.7% 118 63 53.4% 16 47.1% 69.90 $3,389,686
August 49 38.16 1 13 26.5% 27 55.1% 38 77.6% 89 51.7% 172 98 57.0% 20 40.8% 69.00 $6,477,435
September 28 37.25 1 9 32.1% 15 53.6% 24 85.7% 41 39.4% 104 50 48.1% 8 28.6% 70.10 $4,731,340
October 22 36.82 1 7 31.8% 13 59.1% 17 77.3% 53 67.9% 78 57 73.1% 12 54.5% 68.50 $3,200,127
November 15 35.67 0 5 33.3% 8 53.3% 12 80.0% 39 72.2% 54 45 83.3% 7 46.7% 68.30 $2,166,161
December 0 0.00 0 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0.00 $0
TOTALS353 - 7 83 24% 159 45% 266 75% 543 45% 1205 667 55% 161 13% - $44,830,459

Career Performance per Season
Events Played Avg Place Wins Top 10s%Top 10 Top 25s%Top 25 Cuts Made%Cuts Made Rds in 60s %Rds in 60sRds Played Rds Undr Par%Rds Undr Par Within 5%Within 5 Scoring Avg Money
Spring 107 51.19 1 15 14.0% 37 34.6% 72 67.3% 102 30.5% 334 152 45.5% 57 53.3% 71.30 $11,036,030
Summer 122 42.98 3 28 23.0% 54 44.3% 91 74.6% 193 45.5% 424 222 52.4% 55 45.1% 69.70 $15,845,340
Fall 65 36.74 2 21 32.3% 36 55.4% 53 81.5% 133 56.4% 236 152 64.4% 27 41.5% 69.10 $10,097,629
Winter 59 35.98 1 19 32.2% 32 54.2% 50 84.7% 115 54.5% 211 141 66.8% 22 37.3% 69.10 $7,851,460
TOTALS353 - 7 83 24% 159 45% 266 75% 543 45% 1205 667 55% 161 13% - $44,830,459
Spring = March, April, May - Summer = June, July, August - Fall = September, October, November - Winter = December, January, February

Career Performance per Swing
Events Played Avg Place Wins Top 10s%Top 10 Top 25s%Top 25 Cuts Made%Cuts Made Rds in 60s %Rds in 60sRds Played Rds Undr Par%Rds Undr Par Within 5%Within 5 Scoring Avg Money
West Coast Swing 33 43.88 1 8 24.2% 15 45.5% 25 75.8% 61 49.6% 123 77 62.6% 10 30.3% 69.40 $3,955,340
Florida Swing 42 59.07 1 6 14.3% 14 33.3% 24 57.1% 37 28.0% 132 54 40.9% 25 59.5% 71.50 $4,596,322
New England Courses 48 39.92 1 12 25.0% 21 43.8% 38 79.2% 83 48.5% 171 89 52.0% 18 37.5% 69.60 $5,859,113
Texas Swing 18 56.33 0 2 11.1% 3 16.7% 12 66.7% 14 35.0% 40 19 47.5% 13 72.2% 70.50 $1,173,020
Desert Courses 25 29.72 1 9 36.0% 16 64.0% 22 88.0% 59 68.6% 86 67 77.9% 9 36.0% 68.30 $4,078,242
Ocean and Sea Courses 22 35.91 1 4 18.2% 8 36.4% 20 90.9% 26 31.0% 84 38 45.2% 7 31.8% 70.70 $3,134,670
TOTALS188 - 5 41 22% 77 41% 141 75% 280 44% 636 344 54% 82 13% - $22,796,706

Career Performance per Grass Type
Events Played Avg Place Wins Top 10s%Top 10 Top 25s%Top 25 Cuts Made%Cuts Made Rds in 60s %Rds in 60sRds Played Rds Undr Par%Rds Undr Par Within 5%Within 5 Scoring Avg Money
Bent Greens 157 42.94 5 39 24.8% 71 45.2% 117 74.5% 246 46.3% 531 290 54.6% 71 45.2% 69.80 $20,059,475
Bermuda Greens 156 39.64 2 42 26.9% 79 50.6% 123 78.8% 272 50.5% 539 330 61.2% 73 46.8% 69.70 $22,888,147
Paspalum Greens 3 51.33 0 0 0.0% 1 33.3% 2 66.7% 4 40.0% 10 4 40.0% 2 66.7% 71.40 $119,425
Poa Greens 32 58.94 0 2 6.3% 7 21.9% 20 62.5% 20 18.7% 107 37 34.6% 14 43.8% 71.30 $1,573,405
Fescue Greens 5 53.20 0 0 0.0% 1 20.0% 4 80.0% 1 5.6% 18 6 33.3% 1 20.0% 72.10 $190,006
TOTALS353 - 7 83 24% 159 45% 266 75% 543 45% 1205 667 55% 161 13% - $44,830,459

Career Performance per Short and Long Courses
Events Played Avg Place Wins Top 10s%Top 10 Top 25s%Top 25 Cuts Made%Cuts Made Rds in 60s %Rds in 60sRds Played Rds Undr Par%Rds Undr Par Within 5%Within 5 Scoring Avg Money
Less Than 7000 yards 29 39 0 6 21% 13 45% 23 79% 69 63% 110 73 66% 11 38% 69.00 $2,625,508
Greater Than 7400 yards 87 41 0 18 21% 39 45% 69 79% 88 29% 299 139 47% 33 38% 71.00 $8,967,705