Webb Simpson has made more than $US20 million in his career on the US PGA Tour. He’s won four times, including a US Open in 2012. He’s been a model of consistency thanks to his ball striking, but he has gone four years without a victory and a below-par 2015-16 season. Yet through three rounds at the Dean & DeLuca Invitational, Simpson is in position to return to the winner’s circle.
In the sweltering Texas heat, the Wake Forest alum posted a three-under 69 to take a two-stroke lead at nine-under. After opening his round with two straight birdies, Simpson dropped his only shot of the day on the par-3 eighth. He then demonstrated why he ranks fifth on tour in strokes-gained on his approach shots, hitting every green in regulation the rest of the way and grabbing two more birdies and eight pars.
Two players are two back at seven-under, including Englishman Paul Casey who carded his third consecutive round in the 60s, a two-under 68. Casey, 39, has putted better than he has done all season. The European came into the week ranked 140th or higher in strokes-gained putting, putts per round, and putting average. This week, he ranks top five in all three categories. A win on Sunday would give him only the second of his career, the first coming at the 2009 Shell Houston Open.
From deep in the heart of Texas.#ShotOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/gndhpvJA8J
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 28, 2017
He is joined by New Zealand’s Danny Lee, who closed his round with a lengthy birdie putt on the 18th to finish with a one-under 69.
A potential feel-good story could be Stewart Cink. He hasn’t won since his duel with Tom Watson at the 2009 Open Championship and his wife Lisa was diagnosed with breast cancer three weeks prior to last season’s Dean & DeLuca Invitational. Cink, 44, shot a four-under 66 on Saturday, getting him to six-under for the tournament and just three shots off the lead.
Eleven players are within five shots of the lead, including Jon Rahm (five-under), Sergio Garcia and Jordan Spieth (four-under).
