Webb Simpson completed a remarkable comeback on Sunday to win the Waste Management Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona, writes ANDRE HUISAMEN.
The 34-year-old beat overnight leader Tony Finau in a playoff after both players finished their fourth and final rounds on 14 under par.
Finau, who played beautifully leading up to Sunday’s action, had a birdie putt on the 18th to win the competition, but he misjudged the the left-to-right stroke that sailed past the cup.
Simpson made a bogey on the par-five 15th hole and at the time Finau had a two-stroke lead with only three holes to play. Simpson knew he had to make a move and did exactly that with birdies on both the 17th and 18th to come home for a round of 69.
Following Finau’s missed opportunity on the final hole, the two players went back to the 18th for the playoff hole and, again, Simpson was presented with a similar birdie opportunity, but this time to win the title.
A slightly uphill right-to-left putt was perfectly timed by Simpson before sinking away in the cup for a famous victory.
A birdie in a playoff for the victory! @WebbSimpson1 wins @WMPhoenixOpen.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/4l9emf75IH
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 2, 2020
It was Simpson’s sixth win on the PGA Tour and his first since claiming the Players Championship back in 2018. He has subsequently moved into second position in the FedEx Cup standings with Justin Thomas still the leader.
Thomas, Bubba Watson and Nate Lashley finished in T3 on 14 under par, while South Africa’s Branden Grace finished on 11 under par and in T9.
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