Simpson looks forward to Azalea defense

Since winning last year's Azalea Invitational golf tournament at the Country Club of Charleston, Webb Simpson has won college tournaments, made a 110-foot putt during the U.S. Walker Cup victory last summer and played in the PGA Tour's Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he not only made the cut but tied for 31st.

But Simpson, the country's second-ranked amateur golfer, still says the approach shot that set up his birdie on the second hole of sudden death in last year's Azalea was the "best and luckiest" shot he's ever hit. Simpson, after birdieing the last hole of regulation to get into the playoff with Florida's Billy Horschel, drove into a fairway bunker on the second extra hole. The shot looked to be virtually impossible, but that's nothing new for Simpson, who in 2005 as a high school senior got up and down from the sand on the 72nd hole to win his first Azalea title.

"I wasn't going at the flag, but it came out perfect," said Simpson, whose ball stopped 3 feet away for birdie and the win.

Simpson, who tied for 10th individually in The Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate on Tuesday, said he planned on playing a practice round at the Country Club of Charleston, then taking it easy.

"I wasted a bunch of shots out there this week, but I feel good," he said. "I have a couple of things to work out, but I'll be ready to go."

Simpson will face a strong field that includes reigning U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Trip Kuehne, the No. 18 amateur; a trio of past Mid-Amateur champions; six-time Azalea winner and U.S. Senior Amateur semifinalist Frank Ford III; several other top collegiate players; and a handful of top junior golfers, including Peter Uihlein, who is ranked No. 12 among amateurs. Also in the field is Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, who carries a 1-handicap.

Tee times run from 7:50 a.m. until 1:40 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with the field cut to the low 60 scores and ties for Sunday's final round.

Among featured tee times Thursday:

--Romo will start at 8:40 a.m., playing with former Carolinas Amateur champion Cordes Ford of Charleston and John

Among featured tee times Thursday:

--Romo will start at 8:40 a.m., playing with former Carolinas Amateur champion Cordes Ford of Charleston and John Pitt of Chapel Hill.

--Former Mid-Amateur winner Danny Green will start at 9:20 a.m. with 1983 Azalea winner John Finnin of Crete, Ill., and Rocky Manning of Greensboro, N.C.

--Frank Ford III starts at 11:30 a.m. with former Mid-Amateur winner Nathan T. Smith of Pittsburgh and Robert Gerwin of Cincinnati.

--Simpson will start at 11:40 a.m. with former Mid-Amateur champion Tim Jackson of Germantown, Tenn., and Kevin Tway of Oklahoma State son of Bob Tway.

--Kuehne will start at 11:50 a.m. with 2007 U.S. Walker Cup captain Buddy Marucci and Uihlein.

The event is open to the public, but parking is limited with the main parking lot restricted to players and members. Country Club of Charleston head golf professional Hart Brown said there will be someone near the tennis courts directing spectators to parking spots.

Reach Tommy Braswell at 937-5591 or braswell@postandcourier.com