Webb Simpson entered uncharted territory Saturday at The Players Championship.
Simpson, who led by a whopping five shots after his 63 on Friday, followed it up with a nifty 68 at the Stadium Course on moving day. As a result, he will take a record-setting seven shot lead into Sunday’s finale.
Simpson showed the same steady shot-making and putting he had the two previous rounds. After shooting two-under on the front, he made the spectacular shot of the day when he blasted from 100 feet at the par five 11th and holed the long bunker shot for eagle three. A three-putt bogey was offset by a spectacular tee shot at the 17th and his birdie there made up for the double he took on Friday.
Simpson’s strategy remained the same — stay patient and play one shot at a time.
He’s at 19-under par, seven clear of Danny Lee, who will play with him on Sunday.
Dustin Johnson is alone at 12-under, Jason Day is one of five players at nine-under, a full 10 shots back.
Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth head a group of seven at eight-under, 11 back. Woods and Spieth shot the day’s low rounds — seven under par 65s early in the day.
Realistically, an even par round by Simpson on Sunday should be more than good enough.
Lee would have to shoot 65 to catch him.
Dustin Johnson would have to shoot 63 to tie him.
Day would have to shoot 62 while Woods, Spieth and the rest at eight-under would have to put up 61.
All those scenarios are highly unlikely meaning unless Simpson blows up on Sunday, he should end up in the winner’s circle for the first time in four and one-half years.
