Sunday, October 16, 2011

Simpson stays near lead at Sea Island

Louis Oosthuizen, of South Africa, plans his putt with his caddie, Wynand Stander, on the 18th green during the second round of the McGladrey Classic golf tournament at the Sea Island Golf Club on St. Simons Island, Ga., Friday, Oct. 14, 2011. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)

Louis Oosthuizen, of South Africa, plans his putt with his caddie, Wynand Stander, on the 18th green during the second round of the McGladrey Classic golf tournament at the Sea Island Golf Club on St. Simons Island, Ga., Friday, Oct. 14, 2011. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)

Michael Thompson putts for par on the seventh green during the second round of the McGladrey Classic golf tournament at the Sea Island Golf Club on St. Simons Island, Ga., Friday, Oct. 14, 2011. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)

Rickie Fowler hits off the third tee during the second round of the McGladrey Classic golf tournament at the Sea Island Golf Club on St. Simons Island, Ga., Friday, Oct. 14, 2011. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)

Billy Horschel watches putt on the 13th green during the second round of the McGladrey Classic golf tournament at the Sea Island Golf Club on St. Simons Island, Ga., Friday, Oct. 14, 2011. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)

Webb Simpson hits out of the rough on the 13th fairway during the second round of the McGladrey Classic golf tournament at the Sea Island Golf Club on St. Simons Island, Ga., Friday, Oct. 14, 2011. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)

(AP) ? Webb Simpson kept his name near the top of the leaderboard Friday in the McGladrey Classic and his eyes on a showdown with Luke Donald next week at Disney.

Simpson, in a chase to try to win the PGA Tour money title, made a pair of late birdies for a 3-under 67. That left him two shots behind Billy Horschel, who picked up four shots over his last four holes on the Seaside course for a 64.

After finishing his second round, Simpson said he would play the PGA Tour's final tournament next week at Disney in his bid to capture the money title. Donald, currently atop the money list by $68,971 over Simpson, had said earlier Friday that he would add Disney to his schedule.

Donald, who was in England for his caddie's wedding, said on Twitter: "There was never really a decision to be made. I have a chance of making history. See you all at Disney next week." That was followed by a hash tag that said, "Bring it on."

Simpson continued to do just that.

After opening with a 63 and facing stronger wind off the coastal waters, he survived a shaky start and poured in enough birdies to get into the lead with Michael Thompson, who had a 64 earlier in the day. They stayed there until Horschel made his late burst with an eagle-birdie-par-birdie finish to take the lead at 12-under 130.

"I figured Luke was going to play," Simpson said. "He's kind of thinking the same thing I'm thinking, that if one of us was going to play, the other one really needed to. It's going to be fun. He's one of the most competitive guys on tour, and so I'm sure he's going to come guns loaded, and he's going to play great like he has all year."

It's the first time since 2003, when Vijay Singh held off Tiger Woods in the Tour Championship, that the PGA Tour money title will come down to the final tournament of the year.

Simpson is not entirely focused on next week. He was only two shots behind going into the weekend, poised to make a run at a tour-leading third win this year. That might be enough to make him the favorite for PGA Tour player of the year, and the money list could help sway the players' vote. Donald has a large lead in the Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average.

Louis Oosthuizen also had little trouble handling the stiff breeze, having grown up in the wind along the South African shore and winning the British Open by seven shots at St. Andrews last year. Oosthuizen, playing his last event on the U.S. tour, had a 67 and was in the group four shots back.

The 21-year-old Bud Cauley took another step toward becoming only the sixth player to get his PGA Tour card without going to Q-school. Cauley was among the top 10 until running into trouble on the 14th, one of the more exposed holes on the Seaside course, and making double bogey. He still had a 68 and was tied for 17th going into the weekend. In eight tournaments since turning pro, Cauley has missed only one cut.

Horschel, meanwhile, is No. 139 on the money list and says he's not worried ? not as he tries to finish among the top 125 to keep his card, or tries to stay in the top 150 to avoid two stages of Q-school.

"I'm not worried about No. 139," Horschel said. "I'm worried about playing well."

Horschel played with Cauley and William McGirt, the long shot of the FedEx Cup playoffs who now is trying to get his card. McGirt took a triple bogey early in his round to fall three shots over the cut line, and then rallied with five birdies to make it to the weekend and keep his hopes alive.

The McGladrey Classic did lose its tournament host, however, when Davis Love III took bogey on the last hole and wound up missing the cut by one shot. Seventy-two players made the cut at 1-under 139. Among those knocked out was Matt Jones, who is No. 125 on the money list. He opened with a 65, but followed with a 75 to miss by one shot.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2011-10-14-McGladrey%20Classic/id-aa4ea1d0007f4c3d9c1d3827255abfc3

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