Simpson matches course record, Woods makes cut
ponte vedra beach — Webb Simpson matched the course record of nine-under-par 63 at TPC Sawgrass on Friday, despite suffering a late double-bogey, to open up a five-shot lead on 15-under at the halfway point of the Players Championship.
Patrick Cantlay (68), South African Charl Schwartzel and New Zealander Danny Lee (both 66) were a distant second on 10-under, while Tiger Woods (71), at oneunder 143, made the cut with nothing to spare, as did Jordan Spieth (68) and Justin Thomas (70).
Simpson was on the verge of smashing the course record after reeling off six straight birdies but came to grief at the island-green par-three 17th.
After some indecision on the tee he pushed his shot right and his ball took a huge bounce off a railway
I didn’t quite swing it right today, and I didn’t quite have the shape, ball flight Tiger Woods
sleeper and ended up in the water.
“I was in-between clubs,” he said. “I tried to smash a sand wedge and blocked it a little bit. It’s a bit of a bummer.”
Still, the 2012 US Open champion could hardly complain after equalling the 63 previously shot by Fred Couples, Greg Norman, Robert Castro, Martin Kaymer, Jason Day and Colt Knost.
Simpson found his birdie streak from the 11th hole almost amusing.
“You start just kind of laughing,” said Simpson, whose halfway score of 15-under 129 matched the tournament record set by Jason Day two years ago.
“Everything is going in. You feel like no matter what, you’re going to make it, and I grew up on an easy golf course, so it reminded me of being back home, shooting low numbers.
“It’s rare as a golfer where everything is working well, driving, iron play, chipping and putting, and today everything came together.
“But at the same time you’re at TPC Sawgrass, so you know that trouble is everywhere, as you guys saw with me on 17.”
Woods said he could not quite get it together on a day when birdies were there to be had.
“I didn’t quite swing it right today, and I didn’t quite have the shape, ball flight,” said the 14-times major champion.—