Returning Champ Webb

WEBB SIMPSON RETURNS TO DEFEND HIS RBC HERITAGE PRESENTED BY BOEING TITLE.

TEE OFFI time

WEBB SIMPSON WILL DEFEND RBC HERITAGE TITLE

BY ANTHONY GARZILLI

Webb Simpson is back to defend his championship at half feels like a vacation. I think that’s what’s led me to the 53rd RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing. The April play pretty good there each year because I’m in a fresh 12-18 tournament is at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton mindset.” Head Island. Simpson said his ability to be one of the world's top

Simpson, a Team RBC Ambassador, surged through a golfers is a credit to the team that surrounds him, including tightly packed leaderboard last June to win the Heritage. his family, caddie and agent. He finished 22-under-par 262 to beat a group that included “I’ve learned I need to get away from results and get Daniel Berger, Sergio Garcia and Brooks Koepka. The closer to my process,” he said. “I’ve learned in this game, winning score was a record, beating Brian Gay’s 20-under it’s a funny game, you can’t define it as clear as you want 264 finish in 2009. to. If you have a good process and

“I’ll never forget that walk up 18,” have a good team around you, you Simpson said during RBC Heritage are going to see results.” Presented by Boeing virtual media day. Simpson will be joined by South “It was an honor to win there.” Simpson said last year’s win was I’VE LEARNED IN Carolina native Dustin Johnson. Johnson, a Team RBC extra special because of the coronavirus pandemic. He stayed sharp by practicing before the tournament and THIS GAME, IT’S A FUNNY GAME, Ambassador, earned his second major championship at the 2020 Masters, where he won by five was ready to perform at a high level. He said the win offered something YOU CAN’T DEFINE strokes and became the first player with a 72-hole score lower than positive during trying times for his friends and family. “I got a lot of great texts from IT AS CLEAR AS YOU WANT TO. IF 270. He won the FedExCup for the first time in 2020. friends and family saying they missed golf, they missed their Saturday YOU HAVE A GOOD Garcia and Berger are scheduled to compete. afternoons, Sunday afternoons watching us try to beat each other,” Simpson said. PROCESS AND HAVE A GOOD TEAM Garcia won the Sanderson Farms Championship on October, where he birdied the 72nd hole to The win was Simpson’s seventh PGA Tour title. AROUND YOU, YOU win by one stroke. It was his first win since the 2017 Masters. He His other PGA Tour victories include the 2020 Waste Management Open, 2018 Players Championship and ARE GOING TO SEE RESULTS. finished last year’s RBC Heritage tied for fifth place and will be making his fifth start at Harbour the 2012 U.S. Open. In his 10 previous Town. starts at Harbour Town, he carded six Webb Simpson Berger earned his fourth victory top-20 finishes, including a second- on the PGA Tour at the 2021 place finish in 2013. AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He

Simpson, who in mid-March was won by two strokes over Maverick ranked No. 9 in the World Golf Rankings, said he’s excited McNealy after sinking a 30-foot, 7-inch eagle putt on the to compete in front of a limited number of fans. 72nd hole. He was tied for third place at last year's RBC

“We have missed the fans,” he said. “There is excitement Heritage and will making his fourth start at Harbour Town. from the fans. I love it.” Other golfers scheduled to compete are RBC

Hilton Head Island offers a great distraction away from Ambassadors Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar, Brandt Snedeker, golf, Simpson said, noting the bike rides, beach and and Graeme McDowell (read more about them on page restaurants. The relaxation allows him to compete at his 66). Bluffton native Bryson Nimmer earned a sponsors best. exemption.

“Anything we can do to get our minds off of golf, off Also committed are Paul Casey, Matthew Fitzpatrick, of competing, off of preparing is a good thing,” Simpson Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton. said. “It feels like a work week half the time and the other For updates on the field, visit rbcheritage.com.