One day after the Belmont Stakes, the RBC Heritage turned into a horse race and Webb Simpson came out of the pack to win at the wire.
The 34-year-old Simpson made five birdies in six holes through No. 17 to shoot 7-under-par 64 and claim his seventh PGA Tour victory and second of the season by one stroke over Abraham Ancer of Mexico at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, S.C.
The second tournament since the PGA Tour restarted after being shut down in March because of the Coronavirus in March was played without spectators on the course due to of social distancing, but Simpson drew probably the loudest cheers of the week at the finish from the people in homes around the course.
Play finished in near darkness because of a nearly three-hour weather delay early in the round when thunderstorms swept through the area.
“It was a crazy day because of the big delay and we didn’t think we were going to finish today, so I was trying to find a place to stay tonight,” said Simpson, who took over the lead in the FedEx Cup standings and climbed to No. 5 in the World Golf Rankings. “The PGA Tour did a great job getting us restarted in only about 20 minutes after they said we were going back out.
“It was a really long day on the golf course and I really didn’t get going until the 12th hole, and that got my confidence going. It’s just amazing to be standing here. I’m just speechless.”
Simpson, who captured the 2012 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco and lost in a playoff to Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland at Harbour Town in 2013, set the tournament record with a total of 22-under 262.
Ancer, 29, who has won twice as a pro but not on the PGA Tour, got close by sinking a 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, but left short a 34-footer on the final hole that would have forced a playoff and closed with a second straight 65.
“There are definitely a lot of positives,” said Ancer, who also finished second in The American Express earlier this season. “I had maybe, probably the best ball-striking week of my career, but I hit a lot of good putts that looked like they were going in, and didn’t.
“Webb played awesome down the stretch and deserved to win. I’m just going to keep doing what I have been doing and eventually some of those putts will go in and it will happen for me.”
Daniel Berger, who won the Charles Schwab Challenge last week, posted a 65 to finish two shots back in a tie for third with Tyrrell Hatton of England, who had a 66, while 21-year-old Joaquin Niemann of Chile and Sergio Garcia of Spain both finished at 65 to wind up one more down in a tie for fifth.
Fourth-ranked Brooks Koepka finished four behind in solo fifth after a 65, while third-ranked Justin Thomas shot 63 and was five back in a tie for eighth with Dylan Frittelli (62) of South Africa, Bryson DeChambeau (66) of Clovis, J.T. Poston (65), Michael Thompson (67) and Ryan Palmer (69).
Fifth-ranked Dustin Johnson tied for 17th after a 68, second-ranked Jon Rahm of Spain also had a 68 to tie for 33rd and top-ranked Rory McIlroy tied for 41st following a 70.
Defending champion C.T. Pan of Taiwan carded a 69 to tie for 52nd and 10-ranked Xander Schauffele of La Jolla and San Diego State posted a 66 to tie for 64th.
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