2020 RBC Heritage - Webb Simpson Wins

Webb Simpson wins the 2020 RBC Heritage on Father's Day

The 2020 RBC Classic is going down in the history books as unique. Due to Covid-19 the 2020 RBC tourney which traditionally is played the week following The Masters Tournament, was initially canceled before being rescheduled. It is the first ever edition of this long-running Lowcountry PGA tourney that was played in June, and ending on Father's Day. Without the long-lasting daylight of summer, the 2020 tournament would likely not have ended on Sunday, with the final putts on Hole number 18 taking place at 8:26 p.m. in the twilight hour. Veteran Webb Simpson claimed the 2020 tartan jacket with his new course record score of 22-under after a making a string of birdie putts on the back nine to win in dramatic fashion.

As a long-time attendee of the Heritage tournament in Hilton Head, I'm not sure where to start. The calendar usually reads April when this event is held, meaning cooler weather, shorter grass, and no long summer's day. The sweltering humidity seemed to build all week long and then right after the leaders teed off on Sunday, an afternoon thunderstorm popped up, causing a three-hour weather delay. The PGA Tour restart gave the players a shortened 20-minute warm up period before resuming play at 5:20, giving them just enough time for the last groups to finish playing 18-holes. If the 2020 tourney had gone to a playoff, then that would have meant a Monday finish, and less TV drama.

Speaking of playoffs, let's not forget that Simpson lost a playoff at the 2013 RBC Heritage to Graeme McDowell, the 2010 U.S. Open Champion. One of the main factors for the 2013 McDowell win was that his putter got hot on Sunday afternoon, propelling him to victory. Which sounds very much like the formula Simpson followed at the RBC in 2020. Webb has more playoff history in nearby St. Simon's Island where he lost a playoff to Ben Crane at the 2011 McGladrey Classic, and lost another playoff in 2019 at the RSM Classic (formerly McGladrey) to Tyler Duncan. Webb Simpson is a native of North Carolina, and clearly likes the golf courses along the coast. As Simpson was walking up the 18th fairway on Sunday, the open mic caught him telling his caddy that he had never seen the tide so high. A good observation, but Lowcountry locals are all too familiar with the increase in flood tides that are the new normal of coastal living.

Simpson is now a seven-time winner on the PGA Tour, including the 2012 U.S. Open, and currently enjoys the lofty status of being ranked one of the top five players in the world. The RBC Heritage list of past champions is distinguished, and Simpson is a natural fit for this roster. He claims the tartan jacket and the top prize money of 1.2-million, with a chance to defend his title next April at the 2021 RBC Heritage. Second place at the 2020 RBC goes to Abraham Ancer, who finished at 21-under par after hitting all 18 greens in regulation during his Sunday round of golf.

To view past blog entries from the RBC Heritage click on 2019 - 2018 - 2017 - 2016 - 2015- 2014 - 2013

To view past blog entries from The Masters click on 2019- 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2009

To view past blog entries about the PGA Championship click on 2017 - 2012

To view past blog entries from the BMW Charity Web.com click on 2018 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014