Notebook: Webb Simpson’s fall paves way for memorable finish

By Case Keefer (contact)

Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010 | 10 p.m.

A dramatic end to a golf tournament is usually preceded by a collapse.

Sunday’s final round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin was not an exception. Webb Simpson held a one-stroke lead and was 22-under with two holes left, but did not end up making the three-way playoff with eventual winner Jonathan Byrd, Martin Laird and Cameron Percy at 21-under.

“I’m so sad for him because he played so well this week,” said Byrd, a close friend of Simpson’s.

Simpson made double-bogey on the 17th hole to put himself into the predicament. He drove his tee shot into the water and took a penalty shot and then two-putted on the green.

“I hit it left, the only place you can’t hit it,” Simpson said. “But all in all, I had a great week and learned a lot.”

Simpson still had a shot to make the playoff, but missed a 13-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to finish 20-under for the week. Percy, his playing partner, made a slightly longer one to stay in the running.

Simpson took home $189,200 for his third top 10 finish of the year. He moved up to No. 97 on the money list after starting the week at No. 116.

“I take away a lot,” Simpson said. “I think I proved today to myself and everyone else that I can do it.”

Cameron Percy still has work to do

Cameron Percy, an Australian rookie, more than doubled his career earnings on the PGA Tour with a $378,400 payday in Las Vegas for his second-place finish.

That wasn’t enough to put Percy at ease. He is still 144th on the money list, 21 spots away from automatically keeping his tour card for next year.

Percy will likely need a top three finish in the last event of the year, next week’s Children’s Miracle Network Classic in Orlando, to keep his card.

“This wasn’t life-changing because I still need to keep my job,” Percy said.

Shriners patients included in trophy presentation

Both sponsors of the event were represented on the 18th green when Byrd accepted his trophy — Justin Timberlake and the Shriners.

A handful of Shriners patients watched on to the side of the green, including 19-year old Taylor Long, while Timberlake handed over the hardware.

Long’s story serves as a reminder for the cause this tournament raises money for. He was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, without calf bones in his leg. Despite that, Long has been able to live a normal life after Shriners treated him by amputating his feet and providing him prosthetics.

“I was told by doctors when I was born that I would never walk,” Long said. “They told my mom that for the first few weeks of my life. Then, I got to Shriners and that has not been the case. I’m able to do anything.”

Rebel Roundup

No UNLV graduate finished within seven shots of the lead.

Chad Campbell was the closest as he finished the week 13-under and tied for 28th. The other two Rebels to make the cut were Chris Riley and Warren Schutte.

Riley and Schutte finished 8-under and 2-under, respectively.

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.