Scott Simpson

Born:  September 17, 1955

Birthplace: San Diego, California

Height: 6 ft 2 in

College:  University of Southern California

Turned Pro: 1979

 
Scott Simpson, a native of southern California, starred for the USC Trojan golf team in the late 1970’s.  Simpson won two individual NCAA Division I golf championships and turned professional before graduating from college.
 
Simpson qualified for the PGA Tour the next season and spent almost two decades making cuts, posting top-10’s and winning tournaments – including the 1987 U.S. Open – his only Major championship title. 
 
Simpson won early in his career at the 1980 Western Open.  He won comfortably, beating runner-up Andy Bean by five shots.
More than four years would transpire before Simpson won his second title at the 1984 Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic – one of the best stops on the PGA Tour during the 1970’s and 80’s. 
 
1987 was Simpson’s career year.  He won the Greater Greensboro Open in April and arrived at Olympic Club in San Francisco, still seeking his first Major championship.  After opening rounds of 71, 68 and 70, Simpson was one under par, trailing 9-time Major champion Tom Watson by a single shot.  Simpson capped off 1987 by representing his country in the Ryder Cup.
 
After bogeying three holes in a four hole stretch, Simpson caught fire on the back nine, making three-straight birdies to post a 277, three under for the championship.  Watson narrowly missed a 35-foot putt on 18 that would have forced a Monday playoff and, with the miss; Simpson had his U.S. Open title.
 
Simpson would win three more times on the PGA – including the 1993 Byron Nelson Golf Classic in 1993.  In 2006, Simpson began to play on the Champions Tour.  He won that first season at Pebble Beach, capturing the Wal-Mart First Tee Open, edging David Edwards and Jay Haas by a single shot.