Webb Simpson Earns PGA Tour Card
12/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Dec. 8, 2008
LA QUINTA, Calif. - Webb Simpson survived the grueling six-round PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament with six good rounds to finish tied for seventh and earn his PGA Tour card for the 2009 season.
Simpson did something not many have been able to do at the long six-day tournament, posting six consistent rounds of 69-68-68-70-69-67=411 (-21) on the PGA West Nicklaus Tournament and TPC Stadium Courses. Both courses played to a par-72.
The top-25 and ties at the end of the week earned their Tour cards and Simpson's round of five-under 67 on Monday, his best of the week, was made even better by the unexpected low final round scoring average. Simpson entered the day T16th and just two shots inside the cut line.
Ask any player of what is the most nerve-racking round of golf and most will say, "Monday at Q-School." Simpson seemed un-fazed by the pressure, posting a stellar six birdies and just one bogie in the final round to finish at 21-under as the cut line moved from 14-under to start the day, to a remarkable 19-under.
Simpson was one of a handful of players at the final stage that was playing collegiate golf last May. The Raleigh, N.C., native graduated with from Wake Forest in June and promptly turned pro and made his first professional cut at the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship, finishing tied for 37th.
He then made a total of eight starts on the Nationwide Tour and racked up a pair of second place finishes, including falling in a playoff at the Chattanooga Classic in mid-October. He earned nearly $149,000 in those eight tournaments, which was enough to finish 45th on the Nationwide Tour money list and earn his Nationwide Tour card for 2009.
By virtue of his finish on the Nationwide Tour money list, Simpson was able to by-pass the first of three stages of Q-School. He then moved on to Callaway Gardens-Mountain View Golf Course in Pine Mountain, Ga., for second stage, where he finished tied for 11th after rounds of 69-68-66-75=278 (-10).
Simpson is the first Demon Deacon to successfully navigate his way through Q-School since teammate Kyle Reifers made it through in 2005, also at PGA West.
Players Mentioned
