It’s well-documented that Webb Simpson makes a lot of cuts. He really makes a lot of cuts at TPC Summerlin.
Simpson couldn’t crack the code his first time around as a rookie in 2009, but he’s been off to the races since.
The former Wake Forest Demon Deacon played the weekend in the rest of his eight starts. He finished T-4th in 2010 (66-66-64-68) and one out of a playoff, won by six in 2013 (64-63-67-65), T-4th in 2014 (69-64-67-68) and was in the top 20 each of the last three trips, including T-7th in 2019 (67-66-64-68) where he was three out of a playoff.
“I love coming here,” Simpson was quoted by ASAP Sports in 2014. “It’s always great weather, as we’re going to see again this week, I believe. But I think I love this golf course because it reminds me of the course I grew up playing. You have a lot of options off the tee, and greens are undulating and fast. So I’m just comfortable here, comfortable playing this kind of golf.”
There’s no irony lost on me that one of the Tour’s more family-oriented, God-fearing men thrives in Las Vegas.
Simpson has more than course history on his side. He earned the two weeks of rest after a T-8th at the U.S. Open. That was his fourth straight top-20, including T-3rd at the Wyndham Championship (another Simpson hot spot) and T-6th at The Northern Trust.
The 35-year-old North Carolinian has made his last three cuts and five of the last six, one being a win at the RBC Heritage. Simpson also won in February at the Waste Management Open, another southwestern course.
He ranked sixth on Tour last season in strokes gained approach (.64) and 13th in SG putting (.589). The only weakness he has is being a short hitter, which is aided on firm and fast courses like TPC Summerlin.