Webb Simpson’s Unique Practice Rounds Pay Off

Typical practice rounds on Tour usually include a full round on Tuesdays (and shhhh, don’t tell the PGA Tour–some hefty wagering to keep players engaged).

Tour vet Carlos Franco was famous for not hitting any practice shots on the range before rounds. He won 25 pro events including four PGA Tour victories.

At this week’s Tour Championship, Webb Simpson used a minimalistic approach during the practice rounds. Instead of slogging around the courses for a couple of days, Simpson tried something different as reported by GolfChannel’s Rex Hoggard.

Instead of playing a practice round, or even an abbreviated practice round, Simpson simply walked East Lake on Tuesday with Pat Goss, his short-game coach since the fall of 2015.

With just two clubs, his sand and lob wedges, he walked nine holes hitting different shots around the greens.

“I feel like I’m having to bridge the gap. I can do it really well on the chipping green, but I’ve been having a hard time transitioning to the golf course, so we’ve been working on that,” said Simpson, who also sidestepped a normal practice round for another nine-hole walk with his caddie on Wednesday. “We want to make those two a little more similar.”

“I’m definitely way more thankful to be here than I was the four years in a row I came here [2011-14], and it’s because it’s hard to get here,” he said.

That led to a 4-under 66 and just two shots from the lead. If he continues the stellar play, look for his Tour peers to give it a go.