Simpson not scarred by his infamous 1st tee ‘pop up’

The Americans call it a “pop up”. Most golfers would describe it as being “skied”. Whatever your preference, Webb Simpson’s opening shot for the Americans in the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles was one of the most embarrassing in the history of the transatlantic tussle. Partnering Bubba Watson in the first-morning fourballs against Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson on a glorious morning in Perthshire, Simpson sent groans of disbelief echoing around the grandstands with his very nervy blow. According to him, it went 205 yards, but that might have been a slight exaggeration.

In fairness, the 2012 US Open champion was perfectly happy to talk about it as he prepared for his Ryder Cup comeback this week and he did so with a smile on his face, having happily been left unscarred.

“It was funny to everybody, but why it’s even funnier to me is that there’s a backstory,” said Simpson. “That was a shot I had in my bag all year. It was like the fifth time I had done it. I was losing my concentration a little bit and I teed it up a little too high.

“The funniest/most embarrassing part of it was the camera crews went ahead to where we normally drive it, so the camera crew and everybody is coming back.”

Simpson, pictured above, reckons Rose changed his weapon of choice as a direct result. “Justin might not admit it, but he had a 3-wood out and he switched to driver because the driver’s so much bigger,” he added. “So maybe my shot affected him.”

Simpson, an impressive winner in the Players Championship at Sawgrass earlier this year, hinted he won’t be in action in the opening session on this occasion. “You might see me teeing off on the evens,” he said, suggesting that he won’t enter the action at Le Golf National until the foursomes on Friday afternoon.