Players Championship: Webb Simpson dedicates win to mom

May 14 (UPI) -- Webb Simpson dedicated his 2018 Players Championship victory to his mom after carding an 18-under-par at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Simpson handed in a final round of 73 on Sunday, finishing at 270 for the tournament and winning by four strokes. The 32-year-old from North Carolina said his fifth PGA Tour victory was for Debbie Simpson after his father Sam Simpson died in November.

"When my dad passed away ... to go through what she has gone through, losing him earlier than we all expected," Simpson told reporters. "I think she has been more invested in my golf than before. Which is hard to do because she was so invested before."

"To be on Mother's Day ... and I know how much she prays for me and pulls for me and watches every putt and screams when I make long putts and hit good shots. I thought about her a lot today and I knew she was watching every shot so it was for her. For sure."

Tiger Woods began the day tied for ninth place after shooting his lowest round ever at the tournament in the third round of play. He finished tied for 11th after shooting a final round of 69. Woods was 11-under-par for the tournament.

Simpson began his day at 19-under-par. He shot a course record 63 on Saturday.

His last win on the PGA Tour came on Oct. 20, 2013 at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Simpson is ranked No. 20 in the Official World Golf Rankings.

"My dad got me started on the game," Simpson said. "He was a two time a week golfer. He was great early on. He kept me in other sports. But he could tell that I was better at golf than the other sports. What I loved about my dad is that he had his normal Saturday or Sunday game, but once I got to be about 11, I started playing with him and I'd be his partner."

"He coached me less on technique and things like that and more on how to approach the game, how to respect the game and character."

Simpson said he remembers those lessons to this day. He also remembers Debbie taking over the role of driving him to golf tournaments after his dad became ill.

"She just wanted me to enjoy the game. She didn't get wrapped up in the results."