Davis Thompson wins first PGA Tour title at John Deere Classic

SILVIS, Illinois – Davis Thompson had been working for a moment like this, and he wasn’t going to let anything stop him – not a soft golf course that produced the best scores of the week, nor the pressure of trying to First win on the PGA Tour.

He started with a lead of two shots. Through six holes in the final round on Sunday, Thompson had five birdies, increasing his lead to six shots and moving toward a four-shot victory, a spot in the next three majors and the lowest 72-hole score at John Deere. Was. Classic.

“I’m just grateful it worked out. I got off to a great start today and was able to play well on the back nine,” Thompson said after closing with a 7-under 64. That was important, and I was able to overcome the incoming speed.”

The 25-year-old Thompson holed a 45-foot birdie putt on the first hole to take a three-shot lead and no one could get closer the rest of the way.

The Georgia golfer finished with a score of 28-under 256, breaking the John Deere Classic record set by Michael Kim in 2018 by one stroke.

“I just wanted to stay aggressive,” Thompson said. “I knew there would be a low score today because the wind had died down and the conditions were a little soft. So I knew I had to play well. Thankfully, I hit a great putt on the 1st and got the win with a great putt on the 2nd.” The ups came and the ball kept rolling.”

The win takes him into the next three majors, starting with the Open at Royal Troon in two weeks. He will also make his Masters debut next April.

Thompson is the 24th player to earn his first PGA Tour victory at the John Deere Classic, the most at any tournament since 1970.

The final hour was all about who would finish second and earn second place in the Open. That went to Taiwan’s CT Pan, who birdied the 16th and 17th holes and finished with a two-putt par from 20 feet for a 64.

But a pair of youth saved him from sweating.

Florida State sophomore Luke Clanton sank a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole for a 63 and was the first player to reach 24 under. Michael Thorbjornsen, the No. 1 player in the PGA Tour University Rankings following the finale at Stanford, hit a fairway bunker to 18 feet and sank a birdie putt for 63 to join Clanton.

With a three-way tie for second place, the open spot based on world ranking went to Pan.

“Honestly, it will be hectic arranging all the travel details at the last minute, but it will be a good problem to have,” Pan said.

Meanwhile, Clanton became the first amateur since Billy Joe Patton in 1958 to finish in the top 10 in consecutive PGA Tour-sanctioned tournaments. Patton was the low amateur at the Masters and US Open that year. Clanton finished 10th at the Rocket Mortgage Classic last week.

Had Clanton been a professional, his last two weeks would have been worth just over $804,000.

“We came into this week with pretty high expectations, I guess you could say after last week,” Clanton said. “I think I definitely lived up to that expectation. Of course you want to win. But again, what I did out there today was amazing.”

As far as the winner was concerned, there was never any doubt. With a 45-foot birdie putt to start, Thompson holed a 30-foot birdie putt on No. 5 and had seven birdies through 10 holes.

He finally dropped a shot on the par-4 12th, and Thorbjornsen at least got a chance to make it interesting. The Massachusetts native reeled off six consecutive birdies and was playing the approachable par-4 14th. But his drive went well to the right and he hit a heavy chip to about 35 feet. He three-putted for bogey and missed a 4-foot par putt.

Thompson is in his second year on the PGA Tour and was runner-up at the Rocket Mortgage Classic last week. His hope was to keep this momentum going.

Perhaps his choice of accommodation also played a role.

Many Georgia players have been renting a home near the John Deere Classic over the years. They stayed there when JT Poston won the Deere two years ago. Sepp Straka stayed in the house last year and won.

Straka brought his wife and young son with him this year and gave his room to Thompson.

“I guess I have to pay for the whole house, which is unfortunate,” Thompson said with a smile. “But I’ll happily write a check for him.”

The win was worth $1,440,000. This moves Thompson to No. 22 in the FedEx Cup standings, but assures he will attend all signed events next year.