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THE NORTHERN TRUST 2019: Power ranking the top ten at Liberty National

By Brandon Raper

RIDGEWOOD, NJ - AUGUST 23: FedEx Cup signage is displayed on the 15th hole during the first round of The Northern Trust on August 23, 2018 at the Ridgewood Championship Course in Ridgewood, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
RIDGEWOOD, NJ - AUGUST 23: FedEx Cup signage is displayed on the 15th hole during the first round of The Northern Trust on August 23, 2018 at the Ridgewood Championship Course in Ridgewood, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /
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Webb Simpson THE NORTHERN TRUST FedEx Cup Power Ranking
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 04: Webb Simpson hits a tee shot on the fifth hole during the final round of the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club on August 04, 2019 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Six shots. That’s the entire gap between Webb Simpson, runner-up and Webb Simpson, winner of back-to-back starts heading into the FedEx Cup Playoffs. I don’t know if I’d call Simpson criminally underrated, or if it’s just the fact that the absolute top end of the PGA TOUR is so freaking good right now that just “great” somehow isn’t good enough anymore, but I do know one thing: don’t sleep on this guy at Liberty National.

I tend to be a glass half full type, so I have to admit I get a kick out of the fact that Simpson actually won more money finishing second at the Wyndham Championship on Sunday ($1.22 million counting the Wyndham Rewards bonus) than winner J.T. Poston did ($1.12 million winner’s purse).

Simpson enters these FedEx Cup Playoffs in ninth place overall, with five top-five finishes in the 2019 season. His is a game built to handle the challenges of Liberty National, as well, with a combination of accuracy off the tee (28th on TOUR) as well as a fiery putter (11th in strokes gained putting).

While many players were vocal about the quality – or lack thereof – of Liberty National in 2009, Simpson handled his business just as well a decade ago as he did following the renovations. Simpson finished solo eighth in ’09, and tied for 15th in ’13.

We’ve seen plenty of players who keep pushing for the victory week in and week out, and eventually, the breakthrough happens. I don’t see Webb Simpson slowing down this week with a real shot at the FedEx Cup title still in view.

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