San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Webb Simpson had won twice on the PGA
Tour last year so he knew what it took to win a trophy.
His second victory last year was at the Deutsche Bank Championship, the second
of four FedExCup playoff tournaments. Simpson needed a playoff to win that
title.
"There's so many great players who have won majors. I was kind of hoping for
my first win on the PGA Tour last year," Simpson said. "To think my second
would come two weeks later, I didn't (dream it). If I was honest with you, I
believed in myself I could win a major, but maybe not so soon."
This was just Simpson's fourth major championship, and he admitted he was glad
he didn't have to try to win the championship from the final twosome.
"I have no experience in major championships and contention at all. So for me
to play Sunday in the fourth to last group was probably a huge help as opposed
to the last group," stated Simpson, who finished in the top 16 at both majors
he competed in last year.
"I felt a lot of pressure all week playing this golf course, but I can imagine
playing the final group of a major is really tough...Given the circumstances I
was happy I wasn't in the final group."
Despite the enormity of the situation, Simpson was able to remain calm and
quick-witted.
After a heckler ran onto the 18th green during the trophy presentation,
Simpson blurted out, "Enjoy the jail cell pal."
- GRAEME MCDOWELL, the 2010 U.S. Open champion, had never lost a major like
this before: "This is sort of a new experience for me, I suppose, finishing
second at a major championship. I would rather have tried and failed than have
never tried at all. I think someone fairly familiar must've said that. But,
I'm disappointed right now."
- TIGER WOODS, who struggled to 8-over par on the weekend to end at plus-7,
"Yesterday I was just a touch off. As I explained to you, I just happened to
get those half clubs all day. Never got the speed of the greens as well. But
today was different. I felt great on the greens, had the perfect speed all day
and unfortunately just got off to such an awful start."
- PADRAIG HARRIGTON, closed with a 68 to end at 3-over par, "Obviously I had a
great chance coming down the last and I felt good over it, felt I needed to
make a birdie for sure. So I'm not too disappointed about making a bogey. So
it was a good day all around. I missed a few chances, got a few chances."
- MICHAEL THOMPSON, the first-round leader who had the best (66) and matched
the second-best score (67) of the week: "Obviously wasn't expecting to get off
to such a great start the way I did. It was a new experience for me coming in
with a three-shot lead after the first day and in any golf tournament, that is
unbelievable. That means you played fantastic the first round. So that was
different and a new experience. I was more nervous then. To start it off in
such a way and then finish it the same way practically, it just feels
amazing."
- DAVID TOMS, who shared the second-round lead, but struggled to a 76 before
closing with a 68 on Sunday: "It was a real solid round of golf. Started off a
little shaky, but had a couple of nice recoveries and started hitting the ball
a lot better and just real solid. A lot of fairways, a lot of greens
especially the back nine."
- JORDAN SPIETH, went 1-under par on the weekend, to match the third best
total over the final two rounds and win low amateur honors: "With how I played
on the weekend, 1-under for the two rounds, I couldn't really ask for anything
more."
The Sports Network