Webb Simpson says what Tiger Woods was told by his Dad during the 1997 Masters which took him years to understand

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There have arguably been few better examples in any sport of someone announcing themselves beyond any doubt as a future superstar than Tiger Woods winning the 1997 Masters by 12 shots to secure his first major title.

Of course, the golfing world knew that Tiger Woods was a name to look out well before his triumph at Augusta National 28 years ago. But it was, remarkably, his first major championship as a professional.

Woods took the lead from the second round. And by the time the third round was completed, the then 21-year-old boasted a nine shot lead over Constantino Rocca.

Despite being one over par at one stage during the final round, Woods would extend that lead to 12 shots as he won his first green jacket.

What Earl Woods told Tiger Woods before the final round of the 1997 Masters which Webb Simpson did not understand

Fast forward more than two decades, and it was Webb Simpson who went into the final round of the 2018 Players Championship with a huge lead. He had gone more than four years without winning on the PGA Tour heading into TPC Sawgrass. But with 18 holes to play, he led by seven.

And speaking on The Smylie Show ahead of this year’s event, Simpson noted that what Earl Woods had told his son all those years earlier certainly made a lot of sense as he looked to hold onto his lead at the PGA Tour’s flagship event.

“Friday was probably my greatest round I’ve ever had as a pro. Everything was going well, I eagled two to start out, and just making everything. I think I shot 63 with a double on 17. That was really fun,” he said.

“I had a five shot lead after two days, and then a seven shot lead going into Sunday. And it was the hardest round of golf I’ve ever had.

“It’s funny because when Tiger won the Masters in ’97, I watched that film so many times. His dad told him Sunday morning, ‘it will be the longest, hardest round you’ve ever played’, and he had a huge lead. And I’m like, I don’t get that. Then I understood it after the Players because it’s a seven shot lead, all you can do is lose it. You’re expected to win.

“Guys were making a run early on, Tiger was, I think, six under early. I started out par, par, par. Danny Lee, I’m playing with, birdies two and three, so a lot was going on, but I kind of weathered the storm there in the middle part of the round and got it done.”

How Webb Simpson managed to get across the line at the 2018 Players Championship

Simpson did appear to struggle with knowing how to approach his final round seven years ago. He would post a one over par round to win by four over the likes of Xander Schauffele, Jimmy Walker and Charl Schwartzel.

Incredibly, no player in the top 40 failed to break par during the final round other than Simpson. But clearly, he was more than content just to do enough to get across the line – regardless of what it may have looked like on the day.