KAPALUA, Hawaii – Some players show up to the Hyundai Tournament of Champions fully prepared after working on their games during the brief winter break. Others show up full after holiday meals, just trying to work themselves back into the groove.
Webb Simpson? Well, he believes he was a little of both.
“My offseason was pretty staggered,” he said. “Two weeks off and have to play; two weeks off and play. I was trying to figure out the proper rest versus practice, but I’m the type of guy that I hate not being prepared. And so I tried to just literally not touch a club for 10 days and then once I got back, then I hit it hard the last 10 days. So I’d say I’m somewhere in the middle.”
Whatever the formula, it appears the right one so far, as an opening-round 7-under 66 has Simpson in a four-way tie for the lead.
“You know, there’s just a few shots in the round you need to step up and hit, and today I had a few of those and I was able to hit some good shots,” he added. “Take care of the par 5s and just one dropped shot, one poor iron swing on 7. But overall, great start.”