WGC Bridgestone Invitational

by Roz Roberts III

One of the perks of Michael Thompson's victory earlier this year at the Honda Classic was entry in the remaining World Golf Championship events this season.  He finished tied for eighth at the first of those events, the Cadillac Championship.  Tomorrow he will compete in his second WGC event - the Bridgestone Invitational being held at the Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.  These events are limited field events without a cut so every player is guaranteed to play all four rounds.

Michael will be paired with Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano from Spain for the first two rounds.  They will tee of at 8:50am ET for tomorrow's first round.

In addition to the regular Golf Channel coverage from 2pm-6pm ET, PGATour.com will feature Live @ streaming of holes #2 and #15 will be on air from 9am - 6pm ET.

Online Links
Michael's Scorecard
Michael on Shot Tracker
Michael's Group on Shot Tracker
Live @ Coverage

Additional Video on Israel Trip

by Roz Roberts III

If you missed In Play with Jimmy Roberts last night, fear not!  Here is the feature on Michael's trip in full along with some additional clips.  Enjoy!



Hear from PGA golfers Hunter Mahan and Michael Thompson, along with instructor Sean Foley from their golf clinic for Peace Players International in Israel.



Tim Rosaforte sits down behind the scenes and talks about the Israel trip's impact on Hunter Mahan, Michael Thompson and Sean Foley.




Here is the whole feature on the trip:

With only one golf course in the entire country, Israel is not the first destination viewers would expect to find Hunter Mahan, Amy Alcott and Michael Thompson. But all attended a pilgrimage there to support a growing youth support system bringing Palestinian and Israeli kids together through sport. Joined by coach Sean Foley, the golfers couldn’t know that what started as a youth clinic and an incredible excursion throughout Israel would become center of world events in an all-too-familiar story - Middle East hostilities.

Israel Trip to be Discussed on In Play With Jimmy Roberts

Michael Thompson and Hunter Mahan at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem (Photo: Adam Schupak, Golfweek)

by Roz Roberts III


Tonight's episode of In Play with Jimmy Roberts on the Golf Channel will have a story on the trip Michael Thompson and his wife Rachel took to Israel last year during their off-season.  You may remember that they traveled with a group of professional athletes including Hunter Mahan, Sean Foley, and Amy Alcott to help promote golf in a country with only one golf course and dialog between Israeli and Palestinian children.  Unfortunately, rocket attacks cut the trip short.

In Play will air at 10:30pm ET on the Golf Channel.

http://www.golfchannel.com/media/in-play-with-jimmy-roberts-tuesday-july-30-1030pm-071613/

Thompson Hangs Tough at Muirfield

Michael Thompson drives from the 3rd hole during the first round of the 142nd Open. 

Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images Europe.

by Roz Roberts III

Despite hitting a field low of only 7 greens in regulation, Michael Thompson scrambled and putted his way to a one over par 72 during the first round of the Open Championship and he is currently tied for 27th.  The conditions at Muirfield can only be described as extreme.  Long rough, hard baked surfaces and winds that picked up throughout the day provided a tough test especially for the afternoon wave of golfers.

Michael managed four birdies, including birdies at two of three par 5 holes.  He had 9 one putts which was just one behind the leaders in the stat, Zach Johnson, Angel Cabrera and Tiger Woods.

Michael will once again be paired with Richie Ramsay and Padraig Harrington.  They tee off for the second round at 8:00am BST.

Online Links
Leaderboard
Michael's Profile Page from the Open Championship
Live Video (including holes 7, 8, and 9)

More Scottish Golf at the Open Championship

by Roz Roberts III

It was a year ago that Michael Thompson got into his first Open Championship as the last alternate to make the field.  He missed the cut but gained some valuable experience.  This year, Michael knew he was in the field based on his OWGR ranking for several months and was able to schedule his trip to Scotland ahead of time.  He scheduled two tournaments in Scotland including last week's Scottish Open and this week's Open Championship at Muirfield.

Michael will be paired with Richie Ramsay from Scotland who he played with at the Scottish Open and previous winner of the Open Padraig Harrington from Northern Ireland.  The group tees off on Thursday at 1:01PM Scottish time.  That equates to 8:01am ET and 5:01am for those of you on the West Coast.

ESPN will carry live coverage of the first round from 7:00am to 3:00pm ET.

Online Links
Leaderboard
Michael's Profile Page from the Open Championship

Scottish Open Provides Open Championship Tune Up

Castle Stuart Golf Links

by Roz Roberts III

In what should prove a good links-style tune-up for next week's Open Championship at Muirfield, Michael Thompson will be competing in this week's Scottish Open at the Castle Stuart Golf Links in Inverness, Scotland.  He will be one of only four American's competing in the event.  He qualified for the European Tour event through his top 50 Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).

All four rounds of the Scottish Open will be televised on the Golf Channel while NBC will be covering the weekend.

Michael will be paired with Felipe Aguilar and Richie Ramsay for the first couple of rounds.  The group tees off at 1:05pm local time (8:05am ET).


Online Links
Leaderboard
Michael's European Tour Profile