What a Closing Stretch!!!

Michael Thompson’s great finish at the 72nd hole at FedEx St. Jude
In the final round of the 2015 FedEx St. Jude Classic, Michael Thompson pours in an 18-foot putt for birdie on the par-4 18th hole. 

by Roz Roberts III

Michael Thompson was playing really solid golf at the Fedex St. Jude Classic in Memphis and then exploded with a spectacular closing three holes that propelled him into a tie for 3rd.  He finished his final three holes at four under par closing eagle-birdie-birdie.  The four under par score for those three holes equaled his previous 69 hole score of four under par.  He finished the tournament at 8 under par which was 5 shots shy of winner Fabian Gomez but just one shot short of second place.  It was his best finish of the season.

Michael's eagle came on the par 5 16th hole after he found the fairway off the tee.  His second shot came up 66'10" short of the flag in the fairway but he  holed out for an improbable 3.

The streak continued on the par four 17th hole after his 310 yard tee shot split the fairway.  His approach landed just off the green 16'9" from the hole and he buried the birdie putt.

The final chapter of his remarkable finish came on the par four 18th hole.  In a deja vu moment, Michael tee shot traveled 310 yards and landed right in the middle of the fairway leaving him 143 yards to the hole.  His approach found the green safely avoiding the pin tucked right up against the edge of the green and a water hazard.  He stood over a 18'2" birdie putt and calmly drained it completing the best closing stretch of the tournament.

Michael finished all four rounds in the 60's and the top three finish moves Michael just inside the all important top 125 on the Fedex Cup points list.  He currently sits 124th.

Michael Thompson lines up a putt on the 11th green during round two of the FedEx St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind on June 12, 2015 in Memphis, Tennessee. (June 11, 2015 - Source: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images North America)

Michael Thompson tees off on the 5th hole during round two of the FedEx St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind on June 12, 2015 in Memphis, Tennessee.  (June 11, 2015 - Source: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images North America) 

Michael Thompson prepares to tee off on the 12th hole during round two of the FedEx St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind on June 12, 2015 in Memphis, Tennessee.  (June 11, 2015 - Source: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images North America)

Michael Thompson tees off on the 12th hole during round two of the FedEx St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind on June 12, 2015 in Memphis, Tennessee.  (June 11, 2015 - Source: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images North America)