Thursday, April 22, 2021

Team Golf in the Crescent City

Michael Thompson chips onto the 9th green during the first round of the Zurich Classic at the TPC Louisiana in Avondale on Thursday, April 22, 2021. (Photo by Brett Duke, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)

 by Roz Roberts III

Michael Thompson is competing in this week's Zurich Classic for the first time since 2017.  The Zurich Classic is unique on the PGA Tour since it is the only standard tour event that utilizes a team format.  Michael is teamed up with Will Gordon.  The duo shot seven under par in the first round four ball format (each player plays each hole in its entirety and the team score is the lowest team member's score).  They are currently tied for 16th.


Tomorrow's second round will utilize a foursomes format where each team member takes alternate shots but they play a single ball on each hole/  They tee off at 1:57pm EDT.


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Thursday, April 8, 2021

Thompson Takes Advantage of the Par 5's

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AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Michael Thompson of the United States plays his shot from the first tee during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2021 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)


by Roz Roberts III

The general rule of thumb to succeed at the Masters is to score well on Augusta National's quartet of par five holes.  Michael Thompson did just that in round one where he scored four under par on the quartet of par fives including an eagle on the 13th hole called Azalea.  

At the end of the day, Michael shot a solid par 72 which has him tied for 13th after the first 18 holes.  He kept the ball in play all day by hitting 11 of 14 fairways and scrambling well when he needed it.

In addition to gaining two strokes on par, Michael's eagle on 13 earns him two crystal glasses.  The pair will go nicely with the pair he won in 2013 (the last time he competed in the Masters).

Michael will be paired with Hudson Swafford again in round two (one of only two groups consisting of  merely two players).  The tee off at 11:06 am EDT.


Online Links

If you haven't been over to the masters.com site yet you should check it out.  If you select Michael on the leaderboard it will bring up a detailed scorecard which includes video of every one of Michael's shots. 


Photos


Hudson Swafford and Michael Thompson walk over the Hogan Bridge with their caddies on the No. 12 hole during Round 1 of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 8, 2021.  Chris Trotman, Augusta National



Michael Thompson acknowledges patrons on the No. 2 green during Round 1 of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 8, 2021.  Sam Greenwood, Augusta National


Michael Thompson and caddie Damian Lopez on the No. 1 hole during Round 1 of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 8, 2021.  Hunter Martin, Augusta National

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Swafford, Thompson Shake Nerves for Solid Rounds


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Wednesday, April 7, 2021

A Return to the Masters

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AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 06: Michael Thompson of the United States plays his shot from the 12th tee during a practice round prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

 by Roz Roberts III

This is a big week if you follow golf.  It's an even bigger week for Michael Thompson.  

It's Masters Week and Michael Thompson is returning to Augusta for the first time in eight years.  The crowds might be a littler smaller than usual due to COVID restrictions but the greens will be just as fast and the azaleas should be in full bloom.

Following Michael at the Masters from your favorite online device should be fairly easy since there are live streams that cover most of the course and this year you can build a video channel called My Group. Masters.com claims it will show you every shot from your favorited players.  Ideally you should be able to select Michael as a favorite player from the leaderboard and he will show up in your My Group channel  (see the picture below with the favorite selection star shown circled in red).  You can use the links in the "Online Links" section to help you navigate.




If you are going to follow Michael live on Thursday you'll have to be up early since Michael and playing partner Hudson Swafford are the first group off the tee Thursday morning at 8:00am EDT.  That should make for pristine conditions on the greens and for ideal conditions for all those Michael fans on-site in Augusta trying to follow his round.


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