The chalk is writing a predicable script through two rounds of the Sony Open in Hawaii.
Webb Simpson, a pre-tournament favorite and a winner of two events last season, birdied his final three holes Friday to fire his second consecutive 5-under-par 65 to move into a share of the lead midway through the second round of the Sony Open at windless Waialae Country Club.
Six hours later, Simpson stood two shots out of the lead set by pace-setter Nick Taylor
But Simpson’s in a much better place than he was around Christmas.
The world No. 8, who tied for 17th in last week’s year-opening Sentry Tournament of Champions, is back at full strength after contracting COVID-19 and tested positive on Dec. 28. He lost his sense of taste and smell but is back playing great golf. The 2018 Players champion and 2012 U.S. Open victor has 12 birdies and two bogeys through 36 holes.
“Today wasn’t quite as sharp as yesterday,” said Simpson, who finished third and in a tie for fourth in his last two starts in the Sony. “Hit a ball in the water on 2. Didn’t hit quite as many fairways but managed really well. I think staying present this week has allowed me to kind of get through these frustrating moments.
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“I birdied the last two holes yesterday and today I birdied the last three. I think being patient on this golf course is paying off for me. It’s one of those days where calm winds, you feel like you need to go shoot 7-, 8-, 9-under, and I was a couple under for a while there. So really happy with my finish and I thought if I can get it to double digits, I would be at least close to the lead going into Saturday.”
Simpson, who has 11 top-20 finishes in his last 14 starts, said earlier this week he’s as confident about his game as he ever has been. And it doesn’t hurt when you’re playing alongside Collin Morikawa and Marc Leishman, who each shot 65.
“I think seeing good shots before you hit always kind of helps to frame the shot well and then seeing putts go in, you realize, OK, the holes are big enough for these balls to fit in,” Simpson said. “I love playing with those two guys. I’ve played a lot of golf with them. Collin made a lot of putts. Mark made a lot of putts. I made a lot of putts. That’s always nice knowing you don’t have to force birdies, but you put it in the right spot, you’re probably going to make some.”
Taylor’s 62 was the low round of the day and moved him to 12 under and two shots clear of the field. Joining Simpson at 10 under was Russell Henley (64), Vaugh Taylor (66), Cris Kirk (65), and Stewart Cink, who continued his resurgence with a 63.
Eight players are at 9 under, including reigning PGA champion Morikawa (65), Leishman (65), Hideki Matsuyama, who was 7 under on his last seven holes to shoot 65, and Joaquin Niemann (69), who lost in a playoff last week in the Tournament of Champions.
Cink won the season-opening Safeway Open for his first title since his playoff victory against Tom Watson in the 2009 Open Championship. He also finished in the top 12 two other times in the fall and has finished in the top 20 in his last six starts in the Sony Open.
“Today was a dream day for playing here at Waialae. It was almost no wind,” Cink said. “There was a little bit of moisture on the ground from last night, and it was just a day where you could really dial it in. You could really hit your spots instead of having to do the usual here which is trying to figure out how much wind is going to help or hurt the ball and crosswinds and all that.
“Today there was nothing out there.”
