Raleigh's Simpson gets first PGA win

Congrats to Raleigh native Webb Simpson, who won his first PGA event in Greensboro on Sunday. (Raleigh resident and former N.C. State golfer Carl Pettersson made a nice run at the title as well.)

Simpson's win moved him from 12th to third in the FedEx Cup standings, writes ESPN.com's Farrell Evans.

Coming into this week he had six top-10s, including a pair of second-place finishes. Simpson is the 12th first time winner in 2011 and the third straight winner on tour to play with a long putter.

"I thought my caddie and I did a really good job of coming in, choosing clubs," Simpson said after his bogey-free 3-under-par 67 earned him a three-shot win over George McNeill. "But I just thank everyone out there who supported me and cheered for me. It was just a fun week and I really couldn't think of a better place to win than here in Greensboro."

Simpson hired veteran caddie Paul Tesori at the beginning of this year -- a move that he admitted has paid major dividends. Simpson now has to be considered among that growing list of promising young American players that includes Keegan Bradley, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Scott Stallings and Anthony Kim. Now in his third year, Simpson is the 13th different player in his 20s to win on tour this season.

"You're seeing a generational change," said Simpson, who was 16th in the Presidents Cup standings coming into the week. "It's really cool because I think for a while there you had the big hitters winning almost every week. They're still playing well but [a] couple guys win that are in their 20s, it encourages other guys [to say] 'Hey, if he can do it, I think I can do it.'"

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