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Waste Management Phoenix Open: Power ranking the top 10

By Mike Randleman

SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: General view of the gallery on the 16th hole during the third round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on February 3, 2018 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: General view of the gallery on the 16th hole during the third round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on February 3, 2018 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /
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SCOTTSDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 01: Webb Simpson watches his tee shot on the 12th hole during the first round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on February 1, 2018 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 01: Webb Simpson watches his tee shot on the 12th hole during the first round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on February 1, 2018 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /

Webb Simpson could do almost no wrong in 2018. He missed just three cuts in a calendar year where he ran away with the PLAYERS Championship, finished with 10 top-10s and was one of the few bright spots on the American Ryder Cup team. It was quite the resurgent season for a player who hadn’t won since 2013 and was victim to the anchored putter ban that began in 2016.

Ironically, amidst all that success was an MC at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Fortunately, he’s done plenty to prove himself around TPC Scottsdale.

Simpson has five finishes inside the top 14, all between 2011 and 2017. He was solo second in 2017 where he was outlasted in a four-hole playoff by Hideki Matsuyama. Simpson entered Sunday six off the lead.

The 33-year-old comes to Arizona off of three weeks’ rest following his T8 at the Tournament of Champions. His top-10 at Kapalua was his fourth in five starts going back to the FedEx Cup Playoffs. The other result was a T15.

A strong overall game is key to Simpson’s regained consistency. He’s finally regained traction with the putter as he improved from 88th in strokes gained in 2016-17 to fifth in 2017-18. Simpson’s also ninth since 2014 on Bermuda.

He’s not known as a big hitter but he’s accurate off the tee and precise from 125-175 yards. Simpson was 22nd in strokes gained tee to green last season.

While he doesn’t fit the mold of recent Waste Management Phoenix Open champions like Phil, JB Holmes or Gary Woodland, Simpson has all the tools to get it done this week.

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