4 Questions: Simpson Thanks Mom, Remembers Dad, Appreciates a Friend, and Looks to the Majors

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Credit: Getty Images/Icon Sportswire

Webb Simpson won the 2018 Players Championship on Sunday, shooting a four-round score of 18-under par to win by four shots.

The win was the fifth of Simpson’s career, but first in nearly five years. The now 32-year old North Carolina native adds an impressive Players trophy to a mantle which already includes a U.S. Open trophy.

After his big win, Simpson sat down in the media center at TPC Sawgrass to take questions from the press.

Here are four highlighted questions and answers:

1. DOING IT FOR MOM

Credit: Getty Images/Sam Greenwood

On 18 you said that you wanted to do this for your mom. Why was that so important to you?

SIMPSON: You know, with my dad passing away in November, it’s been, I guess, about seven months, and to go through what she’s gone through, losing him earlier than we all expected, you know, I think she’s been maybe even more invested in my golf than before, which is hard to do because she’s so invested before.

But you know, to be on Mother’s Day, and I know how much she prays for me and pulls for me and watches every putt and screams when I make long putts and hit good shots, I thought about her a lot today, and I knew she was watching every shot.

It was for her, for sure!


2. REMEMBERING DAD!

Credit: Getty Images/Jamie Squire

I was wondering if you could talk about the role that golf played in you and your dad’s relationship and the role he played in your relationship and your development, as well.

SIMPSON: Yeah, so my dad got me started in the game. He was a two-time a week golfer. He was great early on. He kept me in other sports, but he could tell that I was better in golf than the other sports.

And what I loved about my dad was he had his normal Saturday or Sunday game, but once I got to be about 11, I started playing with him. I’d be his partner.

And he coached me less on technique and things like that and more on just how to approach the game, how to respect the game, character. You know, I remember a time where I told him he should move his ball into this good lie, and he took that opportunity to tell me that the ball would be closer to the hole and that would be bending the rules a little bit. And so I have a lot of memories like that with my dad, how he just wanted me to be always kind on the golf course and good to play with for other guys.

I still think about all those things to this day.

3. THANKING HIS CADDIE & FRIEND

Credit: Getty Images/David Cannon

As you know, Proverbs 27:17 says, As iron sharpens iron, one person sharpens another. In the last seven years how has Paul sharpened you personally and professionally?

SIMPSON: Paul has been just a great friend through all this, a great coworker. Paul is such a great caddie with such a great resume that I never thought once that he would quit and go work for somebody else.

But through that, I expected him to be frustrated at times, and he never was. He never got frustrated. He stayed positive on my worst days. He would try to give me a pep talk. I think to go through that, you need someone more than a caddie, you need a friend, and he definitely was that for me.


4. LOOKING AHEAD TO THE MAJORS

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Looking ahead, I know you’ve obviously got to digest this one, but the next three majors, which one of the majors sets up best for your game do you believe, coming up?

SIMPSON: I think the U.S. Open because I really like when par is a good score. And from what I understand, Shinnecock doesn’t favor any type of player.

I know it’s a little different than when Corey Pavin won, but he’s a short hitter, and compared to the rest of the guys on Tour, I’m pretty short. And it’s going to be windy out there on Long Island.

I’ve never played Bellerive, I’ve never played Carnoustie, so it’s hard for me to say, but I get more excited for that one than the other ones.


Credit: Getty Images, ASAP Sports, PGA Tour Media


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