Simpson is a true no name only to those who don't follow the tour closely. He doesn't get the press of Ricky Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Hunter Mayhan, etc. but he is a very good player and has been for a while.
The Open was disappointing to me, I am one of the few who think this course is a horrid course to play the Open on. It is more or less a tricked up course, doglegs that have fairways that slope incorrectly, 2 very short par four holes, one monster par five (and the tee change they made on Sunday was terrible - made you have to hit a 3 wood snap hook off the tee), trees that require you to hit over them, yet if you do you might end up with a ball up the tree.
The wind was pretty tame and the green speed never looked up to US Open levels to me, the slopes may have made it impossible. I recall the putt that cost Payne Stewart the Open here was caused by unfair undulations in the greens (they took that extra level off the green for this year).
I'll be glad to see the Open return to Winged Foot, Pinehurst, etc. in the future.