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102nd PGA Championship: Top 10 power rankings at TPC Harding Park

By Mike Randleman

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: A group plays a hole during the 2019 Stephen Curry Charity Classic presented by Workday at TPC Harding Park on September 16, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/Getty Images for PGA of America)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: A group plays a hole during the 2019 Stephen Curry Charity Classic presented by Workday at TPC Harding Park on September 16, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/Getty Images for PGA of America) /
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – MAY 01: Webb Simpson hits his tee shot on the fourth hole during round three of the World Golf Championships Cadillac Match Play at TPC Harding Park on May 1, 2015 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – MAY 01: Webb Simpson hits his tee shot on the fourth hole during round three of the World Golf Championships Cadillac Match Play at TPC Harding Park on May 1, 2015 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Young guns are littering the game of golf these days. Their clubhead speed and polished skill set at that age are assets. One thing these guys won’t have in this week’s case is course history.

Webb Simpson does. He didn’t quite advance to the bracket stage of the 2015 WGC-Match Play at TPC Harding Park, but he did go 2-1 in group play with wins over Ian Poulter and 2016 PGA Champion Jimmy Walker. The loss was just 1 down to eventual runner up, Gary Woodland.

Simpson said during the tournament that the course reminded him of nearby Olympic Club, site of his 2012 U.S. Open win.

Good vibes in the Bay Area will join forces with fine form this summer.

The former Wake Forest Demon Deacon won his second event this season at the RBC Heritage and was T-8th at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. After a rare missed cut at the Memorial, Simpson bounced back with T-12th last week in Memphis.

For the season, Simpson ranks seventh in strokes gained approach (.769) and 19th in SG putting (.56). The PGA Championship often yields the most birdies of the majors. That’s a good sign for a guy averaging a Tour-best 4.83 per round.

He’s plenty accurate off the tee, but Simpson is also accurate out of the rough (17th in proximity, 39’1”).

Webb’s played in 34 majors. He missed six of his first 14 cuts, but did win in that span. Since 2015, he’s made 18 of 20 including his last 11. In 2019, Simpson went T-5th, T-29th, T-16th and T-30th.

The birthday boy turns 35 Saturday. Do you think they’d hand him the Wanamaker Trophy in wrapping paper?

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