The Loop

Cheat Sheet: The Rory slump watch is official, while Webb tries to end his

October 19, 2013
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The only reason to pay attention to a tournament halfway around the globe with only one top-50 player in the field is when the world's second most famous golfer is trying to curb an epic slump. Regardless of your opinion, 10 strokes off the lead at the Korea Open is not a good indication for the state of Rory McIlroy's game. Things are so bad, he's not even under par -- currently at one-over 214 after a Saturday 75, the World No. 6 can only take solace he's not facing the normal media scrutiny... yet.

Webb keeps the field at bay

Webb Simpson began the day with a four-stroke lead in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, and that's exactly where he finished. Starting slowly, Simpson was even through 11 and had fallen into a tie for the lead before birdieing four of the next five holes to regain the four-stroke advantage. With a win, Simpson can start his 2013-14 season with one more than he had in all of 2013. Incidentally, paired with the 2012 U.S. Open champion is Tour rookie Chesson Hadley playing in his first Sunday final pairing in only his second PGA Tour event. Hadley's scorecard was even more exciting than Webb's, featuring two eagles to compensate for an early double bogey to shoot 67.

The almost-career-defining season of Bernhard Langer

Bernhard Langer is one of the most successful players on the Champions Tour with 18 career victories, and 2013 could've been his career-defining season if only he had been able to finish a few more times. Having arguably the best year on the senior circuit, Langer has followed two early wins by failing to do so since despite finishing in the top 10 in each of his last seven tournaments -- including a playoff loss in the Senior British. Which is why he currently finds himself in second place on the Charles Schwab Cup standings behind Kenny Perry instead of the outright leader. Now, up two at the Greater Hickory Classic through three rounds, Langer once again heads into a Sunday with the lead. Of course, a win at the season-ending Cup Championship -- and it's $1 million purse -- will take care of any speculation about the quality of year he's having.