Why Webb Simpson says he learned important golf lesson from…Jeff Bezos?!

Every winner on the PGA Tour has a list of people they thank, and Webb Simpson was no exception after the Waste Management Phoenix Open on Sunday. His coach, the legendary Butch Harmon (“I came in feeling ready to go”). His trainer, Cornell Dreesen (“We set out on a journey to get longer, but carefully”). His caddie Paul Tesori (“Yeah, he helped me there”). And…Jeff Bezos?

That’s right — Simpson said he learned something important for his golf game from Amazon’s billionaire CEO. In his post-round press conference, Simpson was asked about his wedge, which has “step by step” stamped on it. His answer was illuminating.

“So I was reading an article about Jeff Bezos and their company mantra or company phrase is ‘step by step,'” Simpson said. “And the article was just talking about how he’s always tried to take every step and have the company take every step, whether little or big, and treat it really carefully and do the best they can at each step.

“And I just thought this is a game with so many elements, players, we’re playing outside, that you can only control so much. And so about two years ago I made my focus step by step, just, you know, when I go in the gym, I’m going to do the best I can, when I’m practicing, the best I can. So it’s just a reminder for me to take care of the little things and the big things seem to take care of themselves.”

It’s not just talk; you’d be hard-pressed to find a golfer who epitomizes the “step-by-step” mentality more than Simpson. He doesn’t hit it far, but he makes sure to hit it straight. He skips some events that don’t fit his eye but zeros in on those that do. Even on Sunday, when all looked hopeless after his tee shot found the water on 15, Simpson continued to plod along. He saved par to stay within two shots of Tony Finau, birdied 17 to get within one, birdied 18 to force a playoff, and birdied 18 again to win the tournament.

Each time, Finau had a chance to answer and seal the tournament, but Simpson stuck to what he could control. When Finau’s own birdie tries slid by, Simpson was there to take advantage.

The mindset is part of a shift that Simpson said has made him a better all-around player than he was in 2012, when he won his lone major championship. “A couple years ago I was just a little bit tired of being inconsistent and I wanted to be a more consistent player,” he said. “And I started looking at the weaknesses and really learning from golf tournaments, whether I finished second or 30th or missed the cut. And so I think just becoming more a student of the game and a student of myself has helped. So I do feel just more well-rounded now.”

Take a look at this morning’s updated world rankings and you’ll find that Simpson sits at No. 7, a lone short hitter in a sea of big bombers. You’ll notice, too, that he’d finished runner-up four times in his previous 12 starts, plus a third-place finish and multiple other top-10s. “It’s been a year and a half since [his last win, which came at] the Players, which is a long time, but it feels great.”

Step by step, indeed.

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