• Wyndham Championship, Round Four

Simpson snaps up maiden title

ESPN staff
August 21, 2011
Webb Simpson watches his tee-shot © Getty Images
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Webb Simpson held his nerve to claim his maiden PGA Tour victory at the Wyndham Championship in North Carolina.

Overnight leader Simpson held off a determined charge from George McNeill to seal victory by three strokes at the Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro.

Simpson, who teed off with a two-shot advantage on Sunday, produced eight straight pars to settle the nerves before a birdie saw him pick up a shot at the ninth. Five further pars followed before back-to-back birdies at 15 and 16 saw him establish breathing room as he closed in on victory.

McNeill staked his claim for victory with a flawless closing round 64 to put the pressure on Simpson, but one of the PGA Tour's most in-form players held on for an impressive win.

Vijay Singh and Jerry Kelly both compiled scores of 65 to take them to 13-under, while Ernie Els faded on the final day - a bogey at the first set the tone for his round as he was forced to settle for a two-over 72 as he slipped to eight-under-par.

Back-to-back birdies on his opening two holes saw Padraig Harrington get off to a blazing start, but the Irishman's progress was checked by a bogey at the fourth. Two further birdies and a bogey saw Harrington sign for a 68 to finish on six-under-par, but crucially it was enough to seal his place at The Barclays after sneaking into the top 125 in the FedExCup standings.

One player who won't be teeing it up in the Playoffs at New Jersey on August 25 is Paul Casey, who finished 12 shots off the pace after a final-round 73.

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