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“Webb Simpson Leans on New Testament Verse En Route to First Major Title”

2012 U.S. Open: The Olympic Club (San Francisco, California)

When Webb Simpson became a professional in 2008, it didn’t take long for the North Carolina native to find his way to the PGA Tour—half a season to be exact. He showed signs of greatness, but at times looked like the young player that he was.

In 2011, however, Simpson won his first two PGA tournaments and finished runner-up in two more events that had extended into sudden death playoffs. The following year, fellow golfer and personal mentor Stewart Cink encouraged Simpson to pick a Bible verse for each tournament and consistently think about it.

That became a regular routine for Simpson and continued at the 2012 U.S. Open in San Francisco where he chose a portion of the apostle Paul’s letter to the Christians in Corinth.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

In just his second U.S. Open and fifth overall major appearance, Simpson played the difficult Olympic Club course like a veteran. Heading into the final round, he was in striking distance of co-leaders Jim Furyk and Graeme McDowell.

But halfway through the round, Simpson started to feel the pressure.

“On that back nine I felt very weak,” he told CNN. “I felt physically weak. My legs were shaking, but I also felt I had a huge mountain to climb to try to beat the field at the U.S. Open.”

In those intense moments, Simpson was reminded of the scripture he had “meditated on” throughout the week.

By the time he was approaching the 18th green, he held a one-stroke lead over McDowell and Michael Thompson. Simpson made par on the hole then watched McDowell miss a 25-foot birdie putt that would have forced a playoff.

“God’s powers are made perfect,” he added, referring back to his Bible verse of the week. “He’ll help me if I ask him too, not necessarily to help me to win, help me to try to execute shots under that pressure.”