Can Webb Simpson cash in on home advantage at Quail Hollow and Kiawah Island?
- Dave Tindall
- 5 May 2021
With the PGA TOUR heading to the Carolinas, the Charlotte resident will be hoping his season can come alive.
It's fair to say that Webb Simpson hasn't quite had the season he intended.
Sure, there's been nothing too much wrong and he's held his place inside the world's top 10: Simpson is currently ranked ninth after starting the current campaign in sixth.
But his lack of leaderboard presence on Sundays has been a frustration. He hasn't been able to get the competitive juices really flowing.
The good news is that things are starting to turn.
In his last two starts, the American has posted tied 12th in the Masters at Augusta National and tied ninth in the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head.
Simpson is building momentum and his timing looks perfect. Why? This is the portion of the calendar that he's had circled for some time.
As someone who doesn't like flying, it's a huge plus that this week's event, the Wells Fargo Championship, and the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island (May 20-23) are both being played in the Carolinas.
The Wells Fargo in North Carolina is a bona fide home game as Simpson is a member at Quail Hollow and lives just a mile away.
But he's also relishing the prospect of the PGA being played a few hours' drive away in South Carolina.
Simpson is 22/1 with William Hill to win the Wells Fargo Championship, a tournament in which he finished runner-up to Rory McIlroy in 2015.
Ahead of this week's event, the 2012 US Open winner talked about his hopes for both tournaments.
On the Wells Fargo taking place on his doorstep
"Yeah, I love being here for the obvious reasons. You know, it was Sunday night and I was getting in my bed and I'm like, man, it's nice to not be staring at a suitcase across the room, leaving this week to get on an airplane. So I look forward to this week every year.
"I've had two weeks off, so I feel like I've got a lot of good work done around here. The golf course hadn't been too crowded. I love competing here. It's hard, it's a hard golf course. Super challenging all week, but super nice to have support from Charlotte, friends and family, and I'm looking forward to Thursday getting it going."
On his season so far
"I feel like it's been a bit up and down throughout -- since last fall, but I feel like we had a little turn at Augusta on the weekend. Changed a little something in my golf swing and hit it great for four days at RBC Heritage. So confidence-wise, I'm more confident than I've been all season, but still looking to have a couple higher finishes, have a few more chances to win Sunday.
"I think I've only had one or two chances this year to win and that's what it's all about. That's what I think made last year so special is I had plenty of chances to win Sunday, and eventually you're going to get it done. As I look kind of at the next three or four months of golf, that's kind of what I'm looking for is more opportunities on Saturday, Sunday to be in contention and, you know, I think what we're working on we'll see some fruit from."
On the pros and cons of playing at his local course
"I think people assume like if it's your home course, you should play well. I think what people don't realise is the golf course I'm going to play this week is very different than the course I played most of the year. For example, No. 9, I'm usually hitting anywhere from 4-iron to 5-iron into that hole. This week I'll hit 8-iron and 9-iron depending on the wind. So I even, last week coming out here, I numbered four balls 1, 2, 3, 4 and started hitting tee shots on a few holes, because I know this week my lines are going to be different with kind of how firm it is.
"So I relearn the course a little bit every year, so I think that's one kind of misconception that I've got a lot of advantage. I think I have a tiny advantage. I mean, I really do. I think guys do such a great job in their prep work here Tuesday, Wednesday to get ready that there's not really such a thing as local knowledge. And especially I don't play here a ton. I mean, this is my home track, but it's not like I'm busting 100 rounds a year. I'm probably playing once a months 18 holes straight. So I think that's one thing.
"There's expectation that I should play well because it's my home course, but it's hard. It's a hard golf course. I've still got to go out and hit the shots, make the putts."
On his past results in this event
"I've had two chances to win, you know, out of call it 10 tries. So yeah, I think I would have liked to -- this is kind of the one tournament for me that I want to win more than any other maybe besides the other Majors. So, yeah, I haven't had great results here.
"The one year I finished second, Rory went nuts on the weekend, kicked everybody's tail. Yeah, I would love more opportunities to win. I don't think it's really anything I'm doing wrong, it's just I've got to give myself chances to win on Sunday that I haven't really done in the past few years."
On his hopes of success in the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island
"You know, I love Kiawah. I didn't play that great that week (2012 PGA when he missed the cut), but I love the golf course. I think this year is going to be a little different. We had PGA Championship in August then where we're dealing with a lot of thunderstorms, golf course is soft. You know, typical May in the Carolinas is pretty firm, not a whole lot of rain, and I think that's how the golf course plays best.
"So it's super challenging, a lot of demanding not only tee shots but approach shots. I remember leaving in '12 thinking I really like this place, I just didn't play well. I had a month off after -- I played Travelers after the US Open that I won and then I had a month off. We were having our second child. I remember feeling a little down that I missed the cut, but feeling like, hey, if we ever come back, I really do enjoy it. I like the lines off the tee, I like the wind and kind of dealing with those crosswinds, so looking forward to getting back."
On what Kiawah Island reminds him of
"It reminds me a lot more of golf at Open Championships with a lot of wind, a lot of crosswind. Certain tee shots that you can't really see exactly where you're going, you've got to kind of trust your lines over corners, over bushes, over marsh. You know, it's kind of like Sawgrass in a way that no matter how big a lead somebody gets, like anything can happen on that golf course. I feel like there's a 66 and an 80 every day for any golfer, which is exciting for a Major."
