Thursday, September 22, 2016

Thompson Keeps On Rolling in Ohio


Michael Thompson hits his drive on the 12th hole during the first round of the Web.com Tour Nationwide Children's Hospital  Championship at The Ohio State University Golf Club on September 22, 2016 in Columbus, Ohio.  (Source: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images North America)

by Roz Roberts III

Michael Thompson has kept the good golf rolling.  He posted a three under par 68 at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship in Columbus, Ohio which has him tied for 13th and only three shots off the lead.  This was Michael's fifth straight round in the 60's during these Web.com Tour Finals.

Michael's round was characterized by the same good golf as his victory in Boise:  driving accuracy (11 of 14 fairways), good iron play (15 of 18 greens in regulation), and making a few birdie putts along the way.  He had four birdies on the day with a lone bogey.

Once again, Michael will be playing with Bryson DeChambeau and Miguel Angel Caballo.  They tee off at 12:52pm ET.



Online Links
Leaderboard
Michael's Scorecard
Live Projected Standings for the Finals

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

PGA Tour Card Secured, Thompson Now Eyes the Top Spot

Michael Thompson holds the trophy after winning the Albertsons Boise Open at the Hillcrest Country Club on September 18, 2016 in Boise, Idaho. (Source: Steve Dykes/Getty Images North America)
by Roz Roberts III

Michael Thompson has already secured his 2016-2017 PGA Tour card by virtue of his win last week at the Albertsons Boise Open.  He now has his sights set on being the top money earner in the Web.com Tour Finals.  This week's Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship in Columbus, Ohio marks the third Finals event out of four.  Michael is currently first on the Finals money list.

The top money earner over the four Finals events earns some pretty special privileges.  First, you get an entry into next year's Players Championship.  That's nice but the biggest perk is a fully exempt PGA Tour card for next year that is not subject to the reshuffle list.  It's basically a card that will allow its holder to set their own schedule next year.

Michael will be grouped with Bryson DeChambeau (winner of event #1 and number two on the finals money list) and Miguel Angel Caballo (number three on the finals money list).  The group tees off at 8:02am ET.

Online Links
Leaderboard
Michael's Scorecard
Live Projected Standings for the Finals

Sunday, September 18, 2016

Thompson Wins Boise Open, Earns 2017 PGA Tour Card

Michael made it to Times Square!!!  Posted by NASDAQ on Facebook on 9/20/2016



Michael Thompson holds the trophy after winning the Albertsons Boise Open at the Hillcrest Country Club on September 18, 2016 in Boise, Idaho.  (Source: Steve Dykes/Getty Images North America)

Michael Thompson closed the deal.  

After three fantastic rounds at the Albertsons Boise Open he entered the final round tied for first.  But he saved his best golf for the last round.  He finished Sunday with a bogey free seven under par 64 to win the Boise Open by three shots over Miguel Angel Carballo.  His final total of -23 marks his lowest score over 72 holes in a professional event (as far was we can tell).

The win means Michael is assured of earning a PGA Tour card for next year and he is currently first on the Web.com Tour Finals money list.

Michael looked calm and in control over his final round and he stayed out of trouble for the most part.  He hit 16 out of 18 greens in regulation in the final round.  For the tournament, he was tied for first in putts per green in regulation, tied for fourth in driving accuracy and he had the most birdies.  All in all, it was a recipe for success.

“It’s a huge confidence boost, to know that you can do it on such a big stage on a big level.  These four Web.com Tour Finals events mean a lot to all of us. We all want to get our card, especially the guys that lost it last year. I hope that this continues to breed confidence going forward. I feel good about my game.”

Photos



Michael Thompson acknowledges the gallery after sinking his putt to win the Albertsons Boise Open at the Hillcrest Country Club on September 18, 2016 in Boise, Idaho. (Source: Steve Dykes/Getty Images North America)

Michael Thompson hits his putt to win the Albertsons Boise Open at the Hillcrest Country Club on September 18, 2016 in Boise, Idaho. (Source: Steve Dykes/Getty Images North America)

Michael Thompson pumps his fist after sinking his putt to win the Albertsons Boise Open at the Hillcrest Country Club on September 18, 2016 in Boise, Idaho. (Source: Steve Dykes/Getty Images North America)


Michael Thompson holds the trophy after winning the Albertsons Boise Open at the Hillcrest Country Club on September 18, 2016 in Boise, Idaho.  (Source: Steve Dykes/Getty Images North America)




Articles

Idaho Statesman:  Michael Thompson wins Boise Open, secures PGA Tour return
Winner's Bag: Michael Thompson, Albertsons Boise Open

Videos



Fairways of Life Radio Interview
Please note that this video requires any ad blocker to be turned off.  It is a great 13 minute interview Michael did on Tuesday, 9/20/2016.


Michael Thompson drops in a confident putt at Albertsons Boise Open

Michael Thompson's fabulous bunker hole out at Albertsons Boise Open Michael Thompson wins the Albertsons Boise Open

Michael Thompson interview after winning the Albertsons Boise Open
Golf Channel Recap
Michael Thompson gets the job done at the Albertsons Boise Open (Note: skip the first 1:00) 

Saturday, September 17, 2016

Fantastic Moving Day Has Thompson at the Top

Michael Thompson hits his drive on the 15th green during the third round of the Albertsons Boise Open on September 17, 2016 at the Hillcrest Country Club in Boise, Idaho. (Source: Steve Dykes/Getty Images North America
by Roz Roberts III

What a moving day for Michael Thompson at the Albertsons Boise Open!  All he did was shoot a field leading seven under par (64) and jumped into a tie for first with Scott Stallings.  He continued his solid fairways and greens approach and for the third straight round hit 13 out 18 greens in regulation.  He improved his driving accuracy over the first two rounds by hitting 11 out of 14 fairways.  He is now tied for third in driving accuracy for the tournament.
“I was hitting my mid and short irons really well, my wedges really well, and gave myself a lot of chances for birdie inside 15 feet...especially on the back nine, I made basically every putt inside 15 feet except for the last one. You can’t complain when that happens, and I’ve been struggling with my putting, so this is really nice to see and it gives me some confidence going forward.”
Since he was in contention early after his birdie-birdie start, Michael got plenty of TV coverage on the Golf Channel.  The highlights of the coverage are shown below.  Since he's in the final group tomorrow, hopefully we will get to follow his round on TV once again.  The Golf Channel coverage goes on the air tomorrow at 12:00pm PT while Michael tees off at 10:10am PT.

Video

Michael Interview After Round Three (Click to link to Periscope)

Michael Thompson's delicate chip-in at Albertsons Boise Open

In the third round of the 2016 Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft Nabisco, Michael Thompson chips in for birdie from off the green on the par-4 5th hole.



Michael Thompson's solid approach yields birdie at Albertsons Boise Open

In the third round of the 2016 Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft Nabisco, Michael Thompson leaves his second shot within 2 foot range for a birdie on the par-4 10th hole.




Michael Thompson's impressive putt from 50 feet at Albertsons Boise Open

In the third round of the 2016 Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft Nabisco, Michael
Thompson makes an unbelievable putt from 50 feet for birdie on the par-4 11th hole.





Michael Thompson connects on a 15-footer at Albertsons Boise Open

In the third round of the 2016 Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft Nabisco, Michael Thompson successfully holes his 15-foot putt from the fringe on the par-4 15th hole.





Michael Thompson's third shot sets up birdie at Albertsons Boise Open 

In the third round of the 2016 Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft Nabisco, Michael Thompson knocks his approach shot into within 11 feet and converts the putt for birdie on the par-5 16th hole.


Online Links


Articles on the Web

If you just need more Michael Thompson news:


Michael Thompson pumps his fist after sinking his birdie putt on the 15th green during the third round of the Albertsons Boise Open on September 17, 2016 at the Hillcrest Country Club in Boise, Idaho.  (Source: Steve Dykes/Getty Images North America)




Friday, September 16, 2016

Two Solid Rounds Have Thompson in the Top 10 in Idaho

Michael Thompson hits his drive on the 16th hole during the second round of the Albertsons Boise Open on September 16, 2016 in Boise, Idaho. (Source: Steve Dykes/Getty Images North America)
by Roz Roberts III

Michael Thompson has had two remarkably consistent rounds at the Albertsons Boise Open and he's now tied for 7th at -9.  In both rounds 1 and round 2 he hit 13 out of 18 greens in regulation and 10 out of 14 fairways.  He also averaged the exact same 317 yards off the tee.

Michael will look to keep things rolling tomorrow as he tees off at 9:48am PT.


Online Links
Leaderboard
Michael's Scorecard

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Thompson Takes On Second Web.com Tour Playoff Event

by Roz Roberts III

After finishing last week's Web.com Tour Playoff event tied for 39th, Michael Thompson will look to climb into the top 25 on the money list at this week's Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft Nabisco.  The playoffs are four events in total and Michael is confident he's got what it takes to earn a PGA Tour card for next year.
"I think I have a good perspective on what needs to be done. It would be nice to get it over in one week but you've got three more chances. The key in these events is to just stay positive.  I know I'm good enough. I've been out on tour long enough now. I'm good enough to be out there. It's just a matter of me believing it."
Michael tees off tomorrow at 11:50am PT.

Online Links
Leaderboard
Michael's Scorecard

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Web.com Tour Playoffs Start Tomorrow

by Roz Roberts III

Michael Thompson finished outside the top 125 on the PGA Tour this season which means he'll be competing in the four event Web.com Tour Playoff series in hopes of securing one of the 25 PGA Tour cards up for grabs.  This is how Michael earned his card for this past year so it is not an unfamiliar process for him.

The first event, the DAP Championship, starts tomorrow in Beachwood, Ohio.

Michael tees off at 7:41am ET from the tenth hole with Ryan Armour and Martin Pillar.

Online Links
Leaderboard
Michael's Scorecard