Over the last few years, Webb Simpson has grown into one of the most consistent players on the PGA Tour. His game travels, week in and week out.
Through nine events this season, Simpson has four top 10 finishes: a T-8 at the U.S. Open in September, T-10 at the November Masters, T-4 at the Sony Open in Hawaii and T-28 two weeks ago at the World Golf Championships-Workday Championship at The Concession.
He hasn’t missed a cut and his worst finish was T-42 as the defending champion at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, which still earned him a cool $23,853. Not too shabby for a rough week at the office.
The 35-year-old North Carolina native currently sits at No. 10 in the world and is playing his best golf in the biggest events. With the Tour season picking up and Augusta National right around the Amen Corner, is it possible that Simpson’s eyes are on Japan?
“Oh, that’s a tough one. I think it would be an honor to represent the country,” said Simpson on the Olympics, “but I’m personally more interested in trying to win majors, the Players Championship, the FedEx Cup than be a medalist in the Olympics.”
“Part of it is exciting for me, but the thought of going halfway around the world for that timeframe in that part of our season is really tough for me to swallow,” he explained. “I feel like it would really shoot me in the foot for the Playoffs, and right now in my career, Playoffs are more important to me than the Olympics.”
Simpson currently ranks 33rd in the FedEx Cup standings, with Bryson DeChambeau leading the pack after his Arnold Palmer Invitational win at Bay Hill last week. Despite DeChambeau’s success on his journey to chase distance, don’t expect Simpson to be switching lanes by changing his game any time soon.
“We always want to get longer as players, but I have to remember my strengths and what got me to be a top-10 player in the world, and so if I get too far away from focusing on those strengths, then I feel like I’ll go backwards,” Simpson explained while also noting DeChambeau’s advantage.
“He’s been able to do I think what a lot of people really can’t do. Sure, he’s worked his tail off, absolutely, and I have so much respect for him. But I think he’s been able to devote more time to it than someone like me with a wife and five kids,” said Simpson. “Obviously it doesn’t take away from what he’s done, but my goals in golf — I’m not thinking I want to hit it 30, 40, 50 yards further, just because I feel like the time that would take would be too much for me.
“I’ve got to stay focused kind of in my lane and keep playing golf the way I know how to play.”
