Davis Thompson had a Sunday to remember, clinching his first PGA Tour title with a sizzling 7-under 64 at the John Deere Classic. He didn’t just win; he shattered the 72-hole scoring record, finishing at a jaw-dropping 28-under 256. Talk about making an entrance!
With a two-shot lead to kick things off, Thompson wasted no time making his mark. He dropped a 45-foot birdie putt on the very first hole and left everyone else in the dust for the rest of the game. It was like watching a masterclass in domination as he fired five birdies in the first six holes and stretched his lead to six shots. By the end, he was a solid four strokes ahead of the pack.
The 25-year-old from Georgia now gets to look forward to some serious perks—entry into the next three majors, starting with the British Open at Royal Troon in just two weeks. Oh, and let’s not forget his upcoming Masters debut next April. Not too shabby for a day’s work, huh?
The real nail-biter was the scramble for second place. C.T. Pan of Taiwan clinched it, birdieing the 16th and 17th holes and finishing with a two-putt par from 20 feet for a 64. But it wasn’t a walk in the park. Florida State’s Luke Clanton and Stanford’s Michael Thorbjornsen were hot on his heels, both ending up at 24 under after some clutch birdies on the 18th hole. However, the coveted British Open spot went to Pan, thanks to his world ranking.
Now, Clanton made quite the name for himself. The Florida State sophomore became the first amateur since 1958 to finish in the top 10 in consecutive PGA Tour-sanctioned tournaments. His performance over the last two weeks would have netted him over $804,000 if he were a pro. Carson Young also had a shot at second place, but a hiccup on the 18th hole cost him the spot. He ended with a 63 after missing his par putt.
As for Thompson, his victory never seemed in doubt. Along with his early birdie blitz, he nailed a 30-foot birdie putt on No. 5 and had racked up seven birdies by the 10th hole. Even a dropped shot on the par-4 12th didn’t faze him. The Massachusetts native Michael Thorbjornsen tried to mount a challenge with six straight birdies but stumbled with a bogey on the 14th after a wayward drive. That pretty much sealed the deal for Thompson.
Interesting tidbit—Thompson might owe some of his success to his lodgings. He stayed in a house rented by several players from Georgia, a place with some serious winning vibes. J.T. Poston stayed there when he won two years ago, and Sepp Straka did the same last year. Thompson joked, ‘I think I have to pay for the whole house, which is unfortunate. But I’ll gladly pay it.’
The win was a big payday—$1,440,000, to be exact. It also bumped him up to No. 22 in the FedEx Cup standings, pretty much guaranteeing his spot in all the big events next year. Jordan Spieth, who returned to the Deere for the first time since his 2015 win, didn’t fare as well. He finished tied for 26th and now sits at 59th in the FedEx Cup standings with just four weeks left in the regular season.
Davis Thompson’s stellar performance at the John Deere Classic wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. With his eyes set on the upcoming majors, this is one young golfer we’re definitely going to hear more about. Cheers to new beginnings and breaking records!
Source: Espn
