By John Nestor

Webb Simpson cooled off on the back nine but got hot again just in time.

Simspon carded birdies on his final three holes, including two in a playoff to win the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston.

The late birdie binge gave Simpson his second career PGA Tour title, and second this season, while leaving Chez Reavie to wonder what could have been.

"I missed the cut at the PGA and then won Greensboro, my first win ever," Simpson said. "I really haven't had time to reflect on that because the playoffs started. So I really don't know what to think right now."

After a birdie on 18 to end regulation, Simpson birdied the par-5 18th again but so did Reavie to send the playoff to the 17th hole.

There Reavie two-putted from about 23 feet while Simpson drained a clutch putt for the third straight hole, this one from just inside nine feet for the win.

" I told someone I thought getting that second win would be easier than the first but it was tough," Simpson said. "To finish the way I did and birdie 17 was awesome."

Simpson and Reavie finished regulation tied at 15-under-par 269. Simpson fired a 6-under 65 and Reavie, who had a two stroke lead with two holes to play, a 66.

Reavie bogeyed the 18th in regulation after pulling a wedge from 117 yards. He was unable to get up-and-down to preserve a one-shot cushion after Simpson birdied 18 from 21 feet.

"My game plan on 18 with a one-shot lead was to hit it up the left and lay it up and wedge it on and make a par," Reavie said. "All I had to do was make a par and there was no risk in that unless you hit a wedge over the green."

The victory not only puts Simpson in first in the FedEx Cup Playoff standings but adds to a memorable season as he welcomed his first child earlier this year and claimed his first PGA Tour title at last month's Wyndham Championship.

"To be number one in the FedEx Cup with two weeks to go, I couldn't ask for anything more," Simpson said. "The goal is to be in the top five heading into Atlanta and it looks like I'm in a good position to do that, so I'm thrilled."

With the second-place finish Reavie vaulted up the standings from 87th place to ninth.

World number one Luke Donald shot 67 to tie for third at 13-under along with Brandt Snedeker (66) and Jason Day (68).

Bubba Watson, who was the 54-hole leader, shot a 74 and tumbled down to a tie for 16th at 8-under. He had seven bogeys Monday before closing with a long eagle putt at 18.

The leading 70 players in the points standings move on to the BMW Championship before the top 30 qualify for the Tour Championship finale at Atlanta.

 

Copyright © - All Rights Reserved

 

Simpson Birdies Way to Deutsche Bank Championship in Playoff