Webb Simpson had a pretty good day today at the 2013 PGA Championships. He shot a 64, tying the Oak Hill course record, and is now back in contention.
Simpson started his weekend with a 72 and probably didn’t think that he’d tie the course record today. But Simpson came out and hit 7 birdies during round two.
CBS Sports notes that Simpson had a chance to hit a 63 (only 23 golfers have shot a 63 in a major) or to make PGA history by shooting a 62. Simpson said after the tournament that he thought about the record while he was on the course but tried to play it safe.
Simpson said: “It’s so hard because you want to go for it. But you can’t do that on a golf course this hard. I was trying to be patient and conservative.”
The Chicago Tribune notes that Simpson hit the green in regulation on 14 holes. He needed just 26 puts to complete his round.
The Oak Hill course record was set in 1942 by Ben Hogan. Curtis Strange managed to tie the record in 1989 at the US Open.
Simpson said: “It’s pretty special. Any time you can put your name near Ben Hogan, it’s a great thing.”
Simpson’s 64 puts him back in contention at the 2013 PGA Championships . He is now 4 under for the tournament and three strokes behind leader Adam Scott.