Webb Simpson eases to 4-shot victory at Players Championship

Only one man came close to landing a glove on Webb Simpson at the Players Championship on Sunday and even that shot from Tiger Woods was the merest of glancing blows.

Leading from halfway is supposed to be a difficult art but it is a measure of how impressive the 32 year old American played over the weekend that Simpson made it look straightforward.

Five in front after 36 holes and seven ahead going into the final round, he could afford to put his approach in the water at the 18th and still win by four strokes following a 73.

It meant he placed this flagship title on the PGA Tour next to the US Open trophy he won in 2012 and earn a near $2million (£1.5m) first prize.

A costly finish of three dropped shots in the last five holes, including a ball in the water at the 17th, meant Woods didn't even finish in the top ten.

But that doesn't begin to tell the story of his immense contribution, for surely never before in Players history has a man with so little chance of winning created so much excitement.

For 13 holes at least, Woods was on the march once more, following up his wonderful 65 on Saturday with another spellbinding exhibition.

By the time the 42 year old stood on the 13th tee, having picked up six shots with some dazzling artistry and bewitching putting, the deficit had shrunk to just four. The noise Woods was generating was off the charts and one question hung in the Florida air: he couldn't do it, could he?

Tied 68th when he began his third round early on Saturday morning, Woods had moved up to tied second before all the air was let out of the proceedings.

The one thing he couldn't afford was a mistake and he was unfortunate in suffering one at the 14th, where his par putt lipped out.

It was as if the spell had been broken. No birdie at the par five 16th and then, forced to gamble recklessly, came that poor tee shot to the celebrated 17th.

Bigger picture, though, Woods drove the ball beautifully and for two-thirds of the round his putting had the velvet touch of old. What prize this comeback delivering something truly momentous this summer?

'For a while, it was really special out there,' conceded Woods. 'God, I hit it good today and yet I still only ended up with a 69.'

No player in PGA Tour history has ever lost a seven shot lead with a round to play, and Simpson did a fine job in making sure he didn't become the first. He was one of the principal victims when the anchored putting stroke was outlawed but he's found a solution now with the claw method.

Given he hadn't won anywhere for five years, it would have been surprising if Simpson hadn't been tense, and bogeys at the 8th and 10th suggested as much.

But he responded admirably with real determination to hang on for a worthy success.

Not that the bulk of another sell-out 50,000 crowd were watching, of course.. Four groups in front was Woods.

This was another big test that he passed. Could he follow up his lowest scoring round for five years with another stellar show, only this time on Sunday afternoon? He certainly answered that one, even if tied 11th place didn't reflect it.
No player in PGA Tour history has ever lost a seven shot lead with a round to play and Simpson did a fine job in making sure he wasn't the first

The only European in the top ten was Tommy Fleetwood, who finished with a 68 for tied seventh place. Alongside Woods was Sawgrass specialist Ian Poulter, who shot 69.

The day's sub-plot was whether Dustin Johnson could hold on to the world number one spot in the face of a closing round of 66 from world number two, Justin Thomas.

A level par 72 meant that when the latest rankings are released on Monday morning they're likely to show that Thomas has done enough.

A closing round of 66 featuring six birdies in a row at one point saw Justin Rose make a decent start in his own month-long quest to reach the summit.

Two of Rose's next three starts are at events he has won in the past. 'I do think the next month offers a real opportunity,' he said.

US Open champion Brooks Koepka became only the second man to register an albatross at the par five 16th - the obvious highlight in a course record-equalling 63 that hinted broadly at the exciting play to come.

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