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PGA TOUR: Ranking the top 5 comebacks of 2018

By Jordan Perez

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 23: Tiger Woods of the United States celebrates making a par on the 18th green to win the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on September 23, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 23: Tiger Woods of the United States celebrates making a par on the 18th green to win the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on September 23, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) /
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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL – MAY 13: Webb Simpson of the United States celebrates on the 18th green after winning during the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on May 13, 2018 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL – MAY 13: Webb Simpson of the United States celebrates on the 18th green after winning during the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on May 13, 2018 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images) /

Victory for Webb Simpson at the 2018 THE PLAYERS Championship (aka, the “fifth” major) was a foregone conclusion by the second round of the tournament. A five-stroke lead, a tied course record (63) and six consecutive birdies (another tournament record) allowed Simpson to ease into the last two rounds strokes ahead of his opponents. So much so, he gave an anticlimactic double-bogey finish and was still crowned champion, finishing four strokes ahead of Xander Schauffele.

He compared the emotional impact of the win to his first professional win at the Wyndham Championship in 2011.

“I never doubted myself, but at the same time, that’s a long time,” Simpson said.

The 2012 U.S. Open champion had suffered a four-year win drought, but since breaking it, he was invited to join the 2018 U.S. Ryder Cup team for a third time and finished his 2017-18 season with nine top-10 finishes, something he had not accomplished since the 2014 season. He also shot a career-low round of 61 at the 2018 A Military Tribute at Greenbrier. And don’t let his double-bogey at THE PLAYERS fool you–Simpson finished sixth overall in strokes gained: putting for the 2017-18 season.

Though he hasn’t surpassed his career-high rank of fifth worldwide, Simpson continues to contend at PGA Tour events ever since his game-changing win at THE PLAYERS. His 2018-19 season has gotten off to a favorable start, with Simpson placing third in the RSM Classic.

All things considered, sometimes it just takes a single win to return to form.

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