"Paul sent me a text this morning, just told me he loved me and
wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson
said Sunday after doing just that.
Simpson made four birdies in a five-hole stretch on the back nine at
Kapalua for a 5-under 68, giving him a share of the lead with defending
champion Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth going into the final round
Monday on the Plantation Course.
On a glorious day of sun and surf, Simpson played with a heavy heart.
His caddie and friend, Paul Tesori, was in a hospital in Florida with
new-born son Isaiah in intensive care.
Simpson said the child suffered a
seizure shortly after he was born with indications of an infection in
his brain. One of Tesori's best friends in the business is Ted Scott,
the caddie for Bubba Watson, who is filling in this week as Simpson's
caddie.
Tesori tweeted that he tuned into the telecast at Kapalua in
time to see his son's name on Scott's hat.
"I felt like we were out there playing for Isaiah," Simpson said.
"Paul needs something to watch there in the hospital. It's been a long
few days, so hopefully, we gave him something good to see on TV. But it
was tough. I was thinking about him a lot out there."
Winning on Monday won't be easy.
Simpson was the first to reach 14-under 205, thanks to a terrific par
save on the 17th and a long two-putt par on the 18th hole, a par 5 with
a front hole location that made it difficult to get close because the
green and the grain move sharply away.
Spieth, the 20-year-old Texan who looks just as good as he did during
a sensational rookie season, got back into the mix with a tough birdie
on the par-3 eighth and capped off a 69 with a 15-foot birdie putt on
the 17th and a long two-putt for par on the 18th.
Spieth won the John Deere Classic last year. This is his first time with at least a share of the 54-hole lead.
"This is a new position for me," Spieth said. "I've never slept on a
54-hole lead. I'm excited about it and it's going to be a fun time
tomorrow to get to play with Webb for the third time this week."
The most intimidating figure is Johnson, whose power is suited for
the Plantation Course. Johnson also had a 69 and was disappointed at
playing the par 5s in 3-under for the day. One of them was a tap-in
eagle on the par-5 ninth. But he had to settle for pars on the long
holes on the back nine.
One shot hit the front of the green and rolled off the putting
surface on the 15th and into a valley. On the 18th, his 4-iron came up
short and left him a pitch that had to be perfect. It was a few inches
from that. The pitch didn't have enough roll to glide with the grain and
left him a 15-foot birdie chance that he missed.
"Other than that, I played pretty good," Johnson said.
No matter. He's still tied for the lead, still in good position to start the new year the same way he did in 2013.
Zach Johnson, who had a three-shot lead going into the third round,
couldn't make anything and shot a 74. His only birdie was a two-putt on
the par-5 fifth hole. Still, he was only two shots behind at 12-under
207 heading into the Monday finish.
Instead of building his lead, Zach Johnson effectively gave more players in this winners-only field a chance.
Gary Woodland (67), US PGA champion Jason Dufner (69), Brandt Snedeker
(69) and Kevin Streelman, who had a 33 on the back nine to salvage a 70,
were within three shots of the lead. Masters champion Adam Scott wasted
a chance to join them.
Scott was at 11-under and in range of the par-5 15th until he
smothered a long iron into the hazard and had to scramble for a bogey.
He missed a 7-foot birdie putt on the next hole, missed the green and
took bogey on the 17th and closed with a birdie for a 69. He still was
only four shots behind.
Simpson has made 12 of his 18 birdies this week on the back nine, and
his hopes are to stay in the mix and work one more day of magic.
The most intriguing character in this mix is Spieth, who a year ago
didn't have status on any tour in the world. A couple of good finishes
on tour through sponsor exemptions helped secure his card. He won at the
John Deere Classic, finished No. 7 in the FedExCup, played in The
Presidents Cup team and came into the week at No. 22 in the Official
World Golf Ranking.
This figures to be a big test -- a share of the lead, contending with the defending champion and a major champion.
Spieth figures he cleared a big hurdle Sunday when he didn't lose
patience over a few bad breaks. He thought back to last year, when he
struggled in the third round. He wasted good birdie chances on the 15th
and 16th and was starting to run hot.
"But I got to 17 tee box and thankfully, that view kind of calmed me
down a little bit and I was able to snag a birdie there," he said.
Spieth figures to need more of those Monday, as will everyone else
who wants to open the year with a win and guarantee a return to Maui
next year.
