{"id":413541,"date":"2011-05-02T00:03:22","date_gmt":"2011-05-02T00:03:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/05\/02\/tour-report-penalty-costs-simpson-again-pgatour-com\/"},"modified":"2011-05-02T00:03:22","modified_gmt":"2011-05-02T00:03:22","slug":"tour-report-penalty-costs-simpson-again-pgatour-com","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/02\/tour-report-penalty-costs-simpson-again-pgatour-com\/","title":{"rendered":"Tour Report: Penalty costs Simpson again (PGATOUR.com)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
<\/p>\n

Martin\/Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n

Webb Simpson lost in a playoff to Bubba Watson Sunday at the Zurich Clasisc of New Orleans.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM Site Producer<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

Golf is a game of inches, or in the case of Webb Simpson about a quarter of an inch. That was the distance the wind moved his ball as went to address it on the 15th green Sunday at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.<\/p>\n

Because Simpson had set his putter down behind the ball \u2014 about 4 or 5 inches behind it by his account \u2014 it was considered taking a stance and when the ball moved, ever so slightly, he was then assessed a one-stroke penalty.<\/p>\n

Simpson finished regulation in a tie with Bubba Watson, who he would go on to lose to in a playoff.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe problem with the rule is you get greens like this that they get pretty bare, almost like this table top, wind\u2019s blowing, balls can wiggle and move so easily,\u201d said Simpson, who had called the penalty on himself. \u201cI go up to tap it in. It\u2019s not like I rushed up there, I took my time.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe unfortunate thing and the reason I don\u2019t think it\u2019s a good rule is golf is supposedly the last gentleman\u2019s game. There is so much on the player to call the penalty on themselves. When wind or other natural things affect the golf ball, the player shouldn\u2019t be penalized.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simpson wasn\u2019t taking anything away from Watson\u2019s win but this is also the second time the rule has cost him a stroke and possibly a tournament.<\/p>\n

In the final round of the 2009 Bob Hope Classic, Simpson was in contention when on the 11th hole in the final round the exact same thing happened. He had a putt inside of a foot, the wind moved his ball as he addressed it and he was penalized. Simpson tied for fifth.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt just stinks, you know,\u201d Simpson said. \u201cWho knows if that happened or what would happen. It was just unfortunate.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simpson certainly had his chances to win in regulation on Sunday.<\/p>\n

After playing the front nine in 4 under, Simpson played the back in 1 over with two bogeys and just one birdie. Slowly, a once three-shot lead evaporated.<\/p>\n

On the 15th, he approached the ball and set the putter down behind it only for a moment with his feet spread beside it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the rule states if you\u2019re in a stance where you\u2019re going to hit the putt, that\u2019s considered your stance, no matter what it looks like,\u201d Simpson said. \u201cAnd my putter was already grounded. I don\u2019t think it matters how far behind the ball it was.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simpson is a member of the PGA TOUR\u2019s Player Advisory Council and said he plans to address the rule in the next meeting.<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s too early to tell if a change will occur, Simpson said he\u2019ll try to have it changed.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t the first time the rules have come up this season.<\/p>\n

Camilo Villegas and Padraig Harrington were disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard because of a penalty that was assessed after play was completed and their card turned in.<\/p>\n

That rule has since been amended, giving tournament committees the ability to add the penalty to a player\u2019s score after the card is signed rather than disqualify them. Whether this rule changes remains to be seen.<\/p>\n

\u201dWe\u2019re the PGA TOUR, so I think the idea behind rules is to protect the players and protect the field,\u201d Simpson said. \u201cSo according to the rule, in my opinion it doesn\u2019t protect us, it hurts us.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there\u2019s wind blowing, you\u2019re going to have this happen a number of times the rest of the year, and cost guys tournaments, cost them good finishes. It doesn\u2019t lineup with the rest of the rules of golf which say it\u2019s a gentleman\u2019s game; we should call penalties on ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

How would he rewrite the rule if given the opportunity?<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s simple,\u201d Simpson said. \u201cI think there should be no rule at all. If you address the ball and your putter touches the ball, it should be a penalty.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no way in the world that a player can put his putter behind the ball and cause a ball to move without touching the ball. Just like if you\u2019re in the fairway and you touch the ball, you call it on yourself. But if the ball moves, the ball moved because of the wind or the grass. Then you say, hey, my ball moved. Everybody says, okay, end of story. I think it\u2019s pretty simple.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Watson takes over FedExCup lead<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

Thanks to his second win of the year, Bubba Watson moved to the top of the FedExCup standings with his playoff victory Sunday night.<\/p>\n

With the win, Watson picked up 500 points and jumped from 10th to first in the standings, 119 points ahead of Luke Donald.<\/p>\n

Mark Wilson, who was leading coming into the week but not in the field in New Orleans, dropped to third.<\/p>\n

Webb Simpson, who lost to Watson in the playoff, moved from 24th to 10th.<\/p>\n\n

Congratulate Watson on his win<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

It took two extra holes but Bubba Watson got his second win of the season Sunday, beating Webb Simpson in a playoff to capture the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Share your note of congratulations here and we\u2019ll pass it along to Watson.<\/p>\n\n

Playoff play-by-play: Watson wins<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson finished regulation tied at 15 under. Here\u2019s a play-by-play of their playoff, beginning on the par-5 18th.<\/p>\n

No. 18<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2013 Tee shot: Simpson split the fairway with a perfect tee shot, while Watson went left for the second straight time. But Watson actually has a better lie with his ball sitting up, while Watson\u2019s is on an awkward downhill, sidehill lie.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Second shot: Watson went first and came up just short on his approach, while Simpson\u2019s shot kicked onto the green only to roll through the back and into a sprinkler head.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Third shot: Watson\u2019s wedge game has been an issue all day and this one was no different. He hit another indifferent pitch shot and the ball stopped on a downslope. No problem, though. He rolled in the putt after Simpson rolled his to near tap-in range. On they go, back to the tee on No. 18.<\/p>\n

No. 18<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2013 Watson found the long fairway bunker down the right side with his tee shot, while Simpson again hit the middle of the fairway.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Despite being in a bunker, Watson hit his approach shot onto the front of the green, while Simpson found a greenside bunker left.<\/p>\n

\u2013 It took two extra holes, but Bubba Watson\u2019s two-putt from just over 50 feet gave him a birdie and the win Sunday after Simpson failed to get up and down from the greenside bunker and made par.<\/p>\n\n

Watson, Simpson head to playoff<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

All that stood between Bubba Watson and his second win of the season was 8 feet, 11 inches. But Watson left his birdie putt just short on the 72nd hole to finish regulation at 15 under and in a tie with Webb Simpson.<\/p>\n

The two will now head to a playoff beginning on the 18th hole.<\/p>\n

In a tie coming to the par-5 finishing hole, both players missed the green short and left on their second shots. Simpson\u2019s third shot, a difficult pitch from the rough, rolled well past the hole and he two-putted for par.<\/p>\n

Watson, meanwhile, hit his shot from a fairway bunker short of the green to inside 10 feet and alone the same line as Simpson\u2019s putt. He too was unable to convert.<\/p>\n

Of course if it weren\u2019t for a one-shot penalty that Simpson called on himself after his ball apparently moved as he set his putter behind it on the 15th hole.<\/p>\n\n

Simpson issued one-shot penalty<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM Site Producer<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

If Webb Simpson doesn\u2019t win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans it very well could be because of what just happened on the 15th green at TPC Louisiana.<\/p>\n

With Simpson\u2019s ball at near tap-in distance, he walked up to it and was about to putt it out when the ball moved as he set his putter down behind the ball. At least that\u2019s what Simpson told a rules official after calling for one before he replaced the ball and took a one-stroke penalty.<\/p>\n

As a result, Simpson and Bubba Watson are now tied for the lead with three holes to go.<\/p>\n\n

Watson now just one back<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

So much for Bubba Watson being out of this tournament.<\/p>\n

The only blemish on the long-hitting lefthander\u2019s card remains that double bogey on the ninth hole. Other than that he has three birdies and an eagle and is now suddenly just one back of Webb Simpson with five holes to play.<\/p>\n

The latest of those birdies for Watson came on the 13th hole, where he stuck his approach shot to 3 1\/2 feet and made the putt.<\/p>\n

Simpson, meanwhile, bogeyed the 12th hole and now is going to have to fight off some nerves \u2014 something he struggled with in Tampa earlier this year \u2014 in order to win his first title.<\/p>\n\n

Watch: Watson gets wet<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n

Martin\/Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The turning point of this tournament will very likely be this errant tee shot by Bubba Watson on the par-3 ninth hole. Click to watch<\/a><\/em><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Simpson has lead at turn<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

Though Webb Simpson had never slept on a lead going into the final round of a PGA TOUR event, he does have one thing working for him: He\u2019s in the top 10 on TOUR when it comes to final-round scoring average.<\/p>\n

Playing well when there\u2019s no pressure and doing it when you\u2019re trying to win for the first time are two different things, but Simpson seems to be handling the latter just fine.<\/p>\n

The former Wake Forest standout just took a three-shot lead after a birdie on No. 10 \u2014 his fourth of the day and second in the last three holes. Couple that with a double bogey by Bubba Watson on the par-3 ninth, where he inexplicably tugged his tee shot into the water and Simpson appears on his way to his first win.<\/p>\n\n

Watson, Simpson separate from pack<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

At one point there were about 25 players within reach of the lead of Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson.<\/p>\n

With the two approaching the turn, the two are still tied after Simpson birdied the eighth hole.<\/p>\n

K.J. Choi and George McNeill, meanwhile, both just made the turn in 3 under but they\u2019re still three shots back of Watson and Simpson.<\/p>\n

Another stroke back from them is Jason Dufner, who is 5 under in the final round but quickly running out of holes with only four left.<\/p>\n\n

Martin\/Getty Images Webb Simpson lost in a playoff to Bubba Watson Sunday at the Zurich Clasisc of New Orleans. By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM Site Producer Golf is a game of inches, or in the case of Webb Simpson about a quarter of an inch. That was the distance the wind moved his ball as went \u2026\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Original post:
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Martin\/Getty Images Webb Simpson lost in a playoff to Bubba Watson Sunday at the Zurich Clasisc of New Orleans. By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM Site Producer Golf is a game of inches, or in the case of Webb Simpson about a quarter of an inch. That was the distance the wind moved his ball as went to address it on the 15th green Sunday at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":413481,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-413541","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-local-news"},"yoast_head":"\nTour Report: Penalty costs Simpson again (PGATOUR.com) - Ghanamma.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/02\/tour-report-penalty-costs-simpson-again-pgatour-com\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Tour Report: Penalty costs Simpson again (PGATOUR.com) - Ghanamma.com\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Martin\/Getty Images Webb Simpson lost in a playoff to Bubba Watson Sunday at the Zurich Clasisc of New Orleans. 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