No better proof of that than at TPC Boston yesterday as the light started to fade, specifically the last eight holes Simpson played. Without the luxury of even an inch of wiggle room - he was the hunter, not the hunted - Simpson took what he’s figured out and began holing putts. Short ones, medium ones, a must-have long one.
He needed only nine putts those last eight holes, including one-putt birdies on both playoff holes. The second, from 9 feet, gave him the Deutsche Bank Championship in a playoff over Chez Reavie, capping a seismic rise that’s seen Simpson go from No. 84 in the FedEx Cup points list in mid-August to first.
“It’s been a whirlwind of a few weeks. I don’t really know what to think right now,’’ Simpson said. “I’m certainly thankful for the chance to win, and having been able to finish the round with a birdie, and then birdie the first two holes in a playoff was truly awesome.’’
Simpson had his chance with a little help from Reavie, who built a two-shot lead when he buried birdie putts of 24 feet on No. 13, 13 feet on No. 14, and 33 feet on the 16th. Simpson cut Reavie’s lead in half when he rolled in a 27-foot birdie on the par-5 18th hole, a stroke that would prove to be monumental a few minutes later.
Needing just a par on the easiest hole at TPC Boston to secure his second tour win, Reavie chose to lay up in front of the hazard with his second shot, leaving himself 117 yards to a hole cut back right. His third shot was pulled slightly and sailed the green, though, and after chipping to 11 feet, he missed the par putt that would have brought victory. It was Reavie’s first and only bogey of the day. It couldn’t have come at a worse time.
“It’s not hard to make a 5. I mean, I’m going to make a 5 there nine times out of 10,’’ said Reavie, who shot 66 and completed 72 holes at 15 under par 269. “Unfortunately my wedge didn’t work out.’’
