PGA Deustche Bank: Webb Simpson Defeats Chez Reavie on Sudden Death Playoff

James Frederick "Webb" Simpson just won the PGA Deutsche Bank Championship after two holes in the sudden death playoff.

Simpson, who birdied the 18th, was on the clubhouse, one down at 15-under, hoping that leader Chez Reavie would bogey the last hole.

Reavie who had played the back nine at four-under today, made a mistake with his third shot at the 18th, missing wide left of the hole. Then his fourth shot flew shortly past the hole setting up an 11 foot putt for the win.

Reavie’s putt for par and the win just brushed the left side of the hole. Simpson had made his birdie putt, almost on the same line Reavie had, just a few feet longer.

They played the 18th again, as the first hole in the sudden death playoff. On their second shots, both hit left of the green, but Simpson’s bent wide to the left and he had a difficult shot to make.

Simpson hit the shot past the hole, a few feet shorter than his previous putt in regulation, on the same line. Reavie’s shot left him right of the hole, about two-and-a-half feet out.

Simpson again was clutch making the birdie putt to pass the pressure to Reavie and make his. Reavie then easily made his to extend to a second playoff hole.

The par-4, 17th seemed like an advantage for Reavie, who had played the par-4’s at a tournament’s best eight-under. He had also birdied that hole twice, while Simpson had only been able to make par on it.

The key here was the second shot for both. Reavie left his about 18 feet right of the hole. Simpson hit his just short of the hole, slightly to the right about three feet out.

Reavie’s line was a quick one, and he shot it just left of the hole, making par right after. Simpson lined up his short putt, and for the third hole in row he made a birdie, this time for the win.

Simpson’s highlight shot of the day was the eagle putt he made for eagle on the par-5, seventh hole. At that time he was at five-under for the day and 14-under for the tournament.

This was Simpson’s second career win, and the biggest one of his career. His first win came just a couple of weeks ago at the Wyndham Championship, when he won by three strokes.

He seemed to have learned from his previous playoff finish earlier this year at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

He lost back to Bubba Watson in the second playoff hole. They both made a birdie on the first extra hole, the 18th, but then on the second Watson made a birdie to Simpson’s par to win.

The fourth round today saw

Simpson also had the day’s best round at six-under. The day’s second best round was at five-under, shot by Chez Reavie, Brandt Snedeker, Bo Van Pelt and Hunter Mahan.

The 54-hole leader was Bubba Watson, who started at 11-under, but had a horrendous final round at three-over. At least he finished with on a sweet note by sinking a 54-foot eagle putt on 18th. He finished T16.

Finishing tied for third place at 13-under were the world’s top ranked player Luke Donald, Jason Day and Brandt Snedeker.

FedEx Cup defending champ Jim Furyk finished sixth at 12-under. He was followed by Bo Van Pelt at 11-under.

On a tie for eight at 10-under were Adam Scott and Hunter Mahan. Scott started the day just one off the lead and shot even par today.

Rounding up the top 10 finishers, tied with a final at nine-under were Phil Mickelson, Jerry Kelley, Brendan Steele, Ryan Moore and Blake Adams.

Kelley and Steele were part of the contingent that was within a shot at the start of the day. They both shot one-over today.

Simpson is now the FedEx Cup leader in the standings. The top five on the rankings and the points behind the leader look like this:

1. Webb Simpson
2. Dustin Johnson             897
3. Matt Kuchar                1587
4. Luke Donald                1836
5. Brand Snedeker           1842

The top 70 in the FedEx cup standings after this event move on to Cog Hill Golf and Country Club, where this Thursday they will play the BMW Championship.

After the BMW Championship next week, only the top 30 will advance to The Tour Championship, where we will crown the 2011 FedEx Cup Champion.

Among the notables to be eliminated from contention this week were Graeme McDowell, Anthony Kim, Padraig Harrington and Davis Love III.

- Carlos Torres