The King surprises Simpson on 'Morning Drive'

• By Jay Coffin
• Jun 19, 2012 11:33 AM ET

Webb Simpson didn’t look at a leaderboard any time after the second hole Sunday during the U.S. Open.

It’s just not going to help us today,” Simpson recalled his caddie Paul Tesori saying to him on the second hole at The Olympic Club during the final round.

So, Simpson did as his looper said and didn’t look until he made the impressive par on the 18th hole.

“That’s when I realized I was tied for the lead,” Simpson told “Morning Drive” during his visit on Champion’s Tuesday.

But that’s not to say Simpson wasn’t aware of what was going on. He could tell from the gallery reaction that he was in the thick of things, especially since every time he tapped in for par, the NoCal crowds would clap loudly.

Simpson knows he was off the radar heading into the final round. In fact he said that his media obligations on Saturday night were not long.

“It lasted about 2 minutes,” he said. “They said ‘tell us about your round’ and ‘good luck tomorrow.’ That’s how it went.”

Simpson was not under the radar in Arnold Palmer’s eyes. Palmer surprised Simpson on “Morning Drive” and told the new U.S. Open champ that he had told reporters Sunday morning to keep an eye on Simpson.

Palmer and Simpson have had good relationship over the past few years. In fact, Simpson attended Wake Forest on an Arnold Palmer Scholarship.