Webb Simpson joins three-way lead at Tournament of Champions despite caddie 'worries'

US golfer Webb Simpson has shot a 5-under 68 to join a three-way tie for the lead at the Tournament of Champions on Sunday, despite worries about his caddie crowding his mind.

Simpson ran off four birdies in a five-hole stretch on the back nine, and then hung on with two good pars to reach 14-under 205 along with defending champion Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth, in the 5.7 million-pound event at the Plantation Course at Kapalua, US.

According to Sport24, Simpson's caddie was in a hospital with his newborn son in intensive care, with the golfer saying that the child suffered a seizure shortly after he was born, with indications of an infection in his brain, adding that he felt like he was playing for the baby.

Meanwhile, the report mentioned that Spieth, who won the John Deere Classic last year, got back into the mix with a tough birdie on the par-3 eighth and capped off a 69 with a 15-foot birdie putt on the 17th and a long two-putt for par on the 18th.

Gary Woodland (67), PGA champion Jason Dufner (69), Brandt Snedeker (69) and Kevin Streelman, who had a 33 on the back nine to salvage a 70, were within three shots of the lead while Masters champion Adam Scott wasted a chance to join them, the report added.