Saturday 64 puts Simpson in contention

Webb Simpson threw his name into the hat on Saturday at the Masters.

Simpson entered the third round six shots behind before posting seven birdies and an eagle to move to 9-under par for the event and within striking distance of the leaders. His round picked up after a bogey on No. 6.

“I just kind of had a talk with myself going back to 7 tee thinking about all my bad shots this week have been just some poor thinking and not being really committed to what I decided to do,” he said. “And I just said hey, ‘If you stay fully committed the rest of the day, you're swinging great, you're putting well, you're going to make birdies,’ and that's what I did.”

The lowest single-round score at any Masters Tournament is 63. Simpson, however, didn’t have that on his mind while hammering the second nine. 

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“You know you don't really think a whole lot about how many under you are,” he said. “You're aware but you're not thinking about it. And if I'm not careful, 17, 18 are tough pins today, so I just tried to take care of each shot the same.”

Simpson hit 11 fairways and 12 greens in regulation each of the first two days, but needed 60 putts. Paul Tesori, Simpson’s caddie since 2012, made a change and the 33-year-old took advantage.

"We switched up on green-reading,” Tesori said. “I didn't read anything for him and he would bring me in a few times to confirm. I stood behind him and said, 'Yes,' all day and he filled them up."

After being disappointed with his play at Augusta last year, Simpson and Tesori made a decision over the weekend to aim for the safe side of the green every time.

“After Friday's round last year I think I was 4‑over through two days, I made the cut, but pretty frustrated because I had never played well here,” he said. “And just decided that the weekend, no matter what, I was going to miss it on the correct side, the safe side, because most every hole out here affords you that opportunity to miss it on the safe side. And I did that and I shot 2‑under Saturday and 5‑under Sunday.”

Augusta National is known for leaving players with small margins for error. Tesori added that Simpson could remain aggressive in a conservative approach.

“It's one thing to know where to miss spots but make sure the ball isn't going there,” he said. “Take aggressive swings to conservative targets. Aim 15 feet away but stripe it there.”