Simpson pushes Players lead to seven strokes
WEBB SIMPSON will take a record seven-shot lead into the final round of the Players Championship after a 4-under 68 yesterday gave him 54-hole total of 19-under 197.
Simpson’s three-round total matched the tournament record set by Australian Greg Norman in 1994 en route to a four-stroke victory.
Simpson had been five strokes clear of three players after his second-round 63.
With just 18 holes remaining in the US$11 million (RM44m) tournament at TPC Sawgrass, Simpson was seven clear of New Zealand’s Danny Lee, who carded a 70 for 204.
World No. 1 Dustin Johnson birdied three of his closing six holes in a 69 to grab third place on 206.
Former world No. 1 Jason Day of Australia was in a group of five on 207 – but the tournament is Simpson’s to lose.
Hours after Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth charged up the leaderboard with morning 65s that moved them to 8under, Simpson showed now sign of bowing to pressure from any quarter.
Simpson produced his shot of the day at the par-five 11th, where he sent his second shot some 33 yards past the hole and PATERSON TO NO.10 SIGNING SOL THE RETURN TO BLUE into a rear greenside bunker.
In another stroke of brilliance from a player currently ranked 41st in the world, Simpson proceeded to hole his third shot for an eagle.
No player on the PGA Tour has lost a tournament when leading by seven going into the final round.
“There’s still 18 holes to play and I’ve got a lot of work to do,” said Simpson, the 2012 US Open champion.
“I know I have tied records but I don’t think it matters until I win.
“All those things that have happened, I’d love to know them if I win tomorrow.
“I’m trying not to dwell there. I’m trying to just look forward, do what I always do on a Saturday night of a golf tournament and get ready.”
Despite his position, Simpson said he saw room for improvement.
“I felt like today was a good day overall but then I wasn’t quite as sharp as I’d like to be,” he said.
“I dropped a couple shots but overall, I felt like we had a great game plan and we stuck to it.
“I’d like to clean up those mistakes and come out tomorrow with an even sharper round.” – AFP