Webb Simpson set a new record of 22 under 262 at Hilton Head Island to win the RBC Heritage. He finished the tournament with five birdies at the last seven holes.
He also played a bogey-free game, to get seven under 64. Simpson was very helpful to get the game under control and prevent it from entering into an extra round on Monday. Coming right after Simpson was Abraham Ancer who finished at under 21.
Tyrrell Hatton looked destined to be the winner but he finished two shots behind Simpson, coming in at third place. World number 1, Rory McIlroy, finished 11 under at the 13th position on the leaderboard.
Even though the final was threatened by a storm, causing it to start some hours late, things still went on relatively smoothly. The players all gave their best, taking turns to lead the event. At one point, six of them shared the lead.
Hatton was the one who was the first to card 19 under after making a few birdies. But a few bogeys delayed his progress and prevented him from capitalising on his lead. The fate then fell on Ancer to, at least, force the game into play-offs.
After making four birdies, he just needed one more to strengthen his lead and win the game, but he could not. Partly due to the darkness that had covered the venue.
Simpson was the one able to do it, with his five birdies at the last seven holes, his only birdies in the game. If anything, Simpson was sort of a late bloomer, as no one predicted he could have caught up with those at the lead, and even win the game.
Speaking after the game, he said, “It was a crazy day. I didn’t get it going until 12 and then the putts started going in and I started getting confident. It’s amazing to be standing here right now.”
This is his second win of the year, having won the Waste Management Phoenix Open back in February. The win also moves his position to world number 5 on the Official World Golf Ranking. He entered the game as world number 9.
Written by: Leon Osamor