Simpson likely to miss chance of Open double

Only six players have ever done the double of United States and British Open titles in the same year, but Webb Simpson may not even try to join them.

The 26-year-old American, whose closing 68 in San Francisco made it an incredible nine first-time winners in a row in the majors, has a decision to make on Royal Lytham.

Golf’s next major starts four weeks on Thursday and Simpson’s wife, Dowd, is expecting their second child in six weeks.

“Officially I don’t know yet,” he said after beating compatriot Michael Thompson and Ireland’s Graeme McDowell by a shot at the Olympic Club.

“The next eight weeks are going to be up in the air. We’re going to see what we can do.”

His wife gave a more revealing answer, however.

“I don’t think he is going to play the British Open just in case I go into labour,” she told reporters. “It would make Webb too nervous to hop over the pond and then have to try to get back.”

Family is always going to come first, but Simpson must be sorely tempted to try to emulate the feat of Bobby Jones (1926 and 1930), Gene Sarazen (1932), Ben Hogan (1953), Lee Trevino (1971), Tom Watson (1982) and Tiger Woods (2000).

His first-ever round in the championship was a 66 at Sandwich last year. It put him only one off the lead but he went on to finish 16th.

Last week was only the fifth Major of his career, but he had no reason to believe that that barred him from being a contender – Keegan Bradley won the USPGA Championship last August at his first attempt. Simpson was six behind with 13 holes to play, but four birdies in five holes form the sixth brought him into the hunt and the errors of others then made him champion in a real war of attrition.

“One of my thoughts on the back nine was ‘I don’t know how Tiger has won 14 of these things because of the pressure’,” said Simpson.

“I couldn’t feel my legs. It grew my respect for Tiger all the more.

“When Graeme missed and I realised I had won I just kind of shook my head in disbelief.”

Simpson was part of the American side that won the amateur Walker Cup side at Royal County Down in 2007, but certainly not one of the stars of the match.

McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson were the big names there and Simpson did not win any of his three games.

Simpson’s first PGA Tour victory did not come until last season, but he quickly followed it with another, looked like topping the money list until Luke Donald won the final event and then won three times with Bubba Watson on his Presidents Cup debut.