Webb Simpson runs away with Shriners title

LAS VEGAS —Webb Simpson cruised to victory Sunday at TPC Summerlin, pulling away for a six-stroke win in the second event of the PGA Tour’s new wraparound season.

Winning for the first time since the 2012 U.S. Open, Simpson closed with 5-under 66 in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

He finished at 24-under 260 after opening with rounds of 64, 63 and 67 to take a four-stroke lead into the final round.

“As we were going kind of middle of the round, pins were tough, greens were drying out and I knew it would take a really special round for somebody to shoot 7, 8 under,” Simpson said.

“So, I felt like I was in control, and I asked my caddie, once I hit it on the green on 17 where we stood. And I
was just thankful that I was able to kind of manage my golf ball the last couple rounds.”

Simpson earned $1.08 mil­lion for his fourth PGA Tour title.

In addition to the U.S. Open last year at The Olympic Club, he captured the Wyndham Championship and Deutsche Bank Champion­ship in 2011.

Ryo Ishikawa and Jason Bohn tied for second. Ishikawa, the Japanese player who had to play the Web.com Tour Finals to regain his PGA Tour card, shot 65. Bohn had 66.

Charley Hoffman finished fourth at 17 under after shooting 64.

“When you get that far up the leaderboard every putt you make is worth big dollars and big FedEx Cup points,” Hoffman said. “So, to get the year started off on the right foot, you always want to make those putts.”

Chesson Hadley, second entering the final round, had 70 to drop into a tie for fifth
at 16 under with Luke Guthrie, Troy Matteson and Augusta native Charles Howell. Guthrie and Mat­teson shot 64, and Howell closed with 65.

Matteson had seven consecutive birdies – on Nos. 9-15 – to fall one short of the tournament record set by Jerry Kelly in 2003.

“It was a really good ball-striking round,” Matteson said. “As a matter of fact, when I got to 16, I thought I was going to get that eighth one and I ended up hitting the pin and almost going into the lake, so I would have had a tap-in there. But you know what, all in all it’s a great end to my week. I didn’t quite figure it out in the middle (of the tournament), but I certainly put it together today.”