What Olympic Has In Store

AP writer Antonio Gonzalez did a nice article on the par 5 16th hole at the Olympic Club which comes in at a whopping 670 yards.  Michael is quoted mid-way through and it is worth a read.  This version came from USAToday.com.


670-yard 16th longest in U.S. Open History

Thompson Interviewed at Olympic

Runner Up Returns

Michael was mentioned in an AP article on Monday.  The full article can be found on the Washington Post's website here US Open Storylines.  The part on Michael reads as follows:

By Associated Press, Monday, June 11, 5:22 PM

RUNNER-UP RETURNS: The small silver plaques for runners-up inside The Olympic Club are often more recognizable than the posters and memorabilia of the winners. Names such as Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Payne Stewart adorn the walls for their second-place finishes.

Try Michael Thompson, too.

No, not from a U.S. Open. Back in 2007, Thompson finished runner-up in the U.S. Amateur championship at Olympic.

He lost 2 and 1 against Colt Knost in a grueling 36-hole finale, and he hadn’t played a meaningful round on the Lake Course again until after he qualified for the U.S. Open last week.

“I’ve been wanting to come back here for over two years,” Thompson said. “This golf course has a special place in my heart.”

Thompson still recalls almost every shot from that taxing week.

One of his shining moments came in the opening round when he beat Webb Simpson 5 and 4, shooting 5 under through the opening 14 holes, including a 15-foot birdie on No. 10. Thompson also made a 50-foot birdie on the fifth in the final.

“I’ve started thinking about all the shots I hit that week,” Thompson said. “All the tee shots, all the holes, just trying to feed off those good vibes. It will be much tougher to duplicate.”

It's Official!!! Thompson is Headed Back to the US Open

Michael finished solo 2nd at 142 over two rounds.

by Roz Roberts III

After posting the best round of the day (a four under par 68), Michael Thompson launched himself up the US Open Sectional Qualifier leaderboard in Rockville, MD and right into the 2012 US Open!  He finished the 36 hole qualifier at two under par and finished second.  Seven spots into the US Open were handed out at the Mid-Atlantic qualifier.  After a first round 2 over par 74 which was good for a T22, Michael needed to post a low score to secure a spot.  That's exactly what he did - posting a three under par front nine followed by a one under par back nine and climbing 20 spots up the leaderboard in 20 mph afternoon winds.

The US Open is being played at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, CA which is the site of Michael's second place finish in the 2007 US Amateur.

The US Open will be Michael's first major as a PGA Tour professional but it won't be a new experience as Michael was the low amateur in the 2008 US Open in Torrey Pines.

Random Facts
Only 7 players were under par at the Mid-Atlantic Qualifier.  All seven qualified without the need for a playoff.

Two of the seven players who qualified at the Mid-Atlantic Qualifier had the last name of Thompson (Michael and fellow pro Nicholas Thompson)

Two of the seven players who qualified at the Mid-Atlantic Qualifier are from Birmingham, AL (Michael and Jeff Curl)

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36 Holes for a Coveted Spot in the US Open

by Roz Roberts III

For hundreds of golfers, both amateur and professional, tomorrow is a day in which dreams can come true or be put on hold for another year.  Across the United States, sectional qualifying tournaments will be held to fill the field for the 2012 US Open.  Each tournament will be 36 holes in length over the day with a coveted spot in the US Open awarded to the top players in each event.

Michael Thompson will be playing in the sectional qualifier at the Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland.  He will be competing with 77 other golfers for 7 spots.  His first round gets started at 7:20am.

Update:
Michael posted a second round of -4 and is in the clubhouse at -2.  He is currently T2 and now has to wait to see if has punched his ticket to the 2012 US Open.

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