• The Open

Simpson to skip The Open

ESPN staff
June 21, 2012
Webb Simpson claimed his first major at Olympic Club last weekend © Getty Images
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Newly-crowned US Open champion Webb Simpson will not bid to win back-to-back majors at next month's Open after he confirmed he would stay at home for the birth of his second child.

With his victory at Olympic Club still sinking in, Simpson claims it was an easy decision to skip the event at Royal Lytham & St Annes with his wife Dowd expecting their second child just after the third major of the year on July 19-22.

Despite the lure of a second major title, Simpson will not risk being stranded overseas if there is any possibility his wife could go into labour prematurely.

"I'm a guy who loves my family and we're probably only going to have a couple more babies, so I have the rest of my life to play in the British Open," Simpson said. "I don't want to miss the birth of the second child, so it's an easy decision.

"After winning it's certainly a little harder not to go because I'd love to go and try to win another major, but in the grand scheme of things and grand scheme of life it's a decision that I know I'll always be happy that I made.

"The first experience watching my first son being born was one of the greatest experiences I think a person can have - and I don't want to miss it again."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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