Tour Life
Why Webb Simpson isn't writing a letter to Tiger Woods asking for a spot in the Genesis Invitational
Gregory Shamus
Webb Simpson flashed some of the golf skills we've come to expect from him through the years on Thursday with an opening 65 at the Sony Open. But before that, it was his writing skills that he's been putting to more use lately.
After a couple down seasons on the PGA Tour, the 2012 U.S. Open champ finds himself in a position he hasn't been in since he turned pro—asking tournament directors for sponsor's exemptions into events.
"Been a long time. 2008. Right when I turned pro," Simpson said on Thursday of writing those letters. "I got five spots that summer. So I kind of remembered how do it. My letter this time was a lot better than last time. For sure."
Simpson's playing schedule is still very much a work in progress. But at least one of those letters got him into next month's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which is one of the PGA Tour's signature events in 2024 with a $20 million purse and no cut.
"Very up in the air," Simpson said of his schedule. "The only big tournament I'm definitely in is The Players. I've got one more year. AT&T and was kind enough to give me a spot, so I get that elevated. That's my next one. It'll be totally up in the air."
One tournament host he won't be writing to, however, is Tiger Woods. But the seven-time PGA Tour winner has a great reason for not attempting to tee it up at the Genesis Invitational next month.
"Funny you mentioned his," Simpson said after being asked about the Genesis Invitational. "His is the only one I didn't write a letter to because it's my son's birthday that week. I've told him before I hate missing it because I do love Riv and supporting him, but I'm not going. Yeah, I written letters to everybody."
Good luck getting good responses, Webb. And remember to always use spell check.