American golfer Davis Thompson delivered a remarkable performance at the John Deere Classic on July 7, securing his first PGA Tour title with a record-setting victory.
At the TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, the 25-year-old shot a stunning seven-under-par 64, finishing the tournament with a new record score of 28-under 256 over 72 holes. This achievement surpasses the previous record of 27-under set by Michael Kim in 2018.
Thompson’s final round began impressively as he birdied five of the first six holes. He continued his strong play with consecutive birdies at the ninth and tenth holes. Despite a bogey at the 12th, he recovered quickly with a birdie at the 14th and parred the remaining holes to secure his victory.
Reflecting on his triumph, Thompson shared his approach:
“I just tried to stay present all day. When that putt finally went in, just a big sigh of relief.”
This victory is a significant milestone for Thompson, who is currently ranked 70th in the world. It marks his first win after notable near-finishes, including a runner-up position in Detroit on June 30, another in Myrtle Beach in May, and one in the California desert in 2023.
Alongside his victory, Thompson, along with Pan Cheng-tsung of Chinese Taipei, secured qualification for the British Open at Royal Troon in two weeks. Pan earned his spot by ranking higher than his competitors, American Michael Thorbjornsen and US amateur Luke Clanton, who shared second place at 260. Americans Ben Griffin, who shot an impressive 62, and Carson Young were just one stroke behind.
Thompson also had an interesting note about his accommodations, staying in the same house used by the 2022 and 2023 champions, J.T. Poston and Sepp Straka, respectively.
“Definitely not,” Thompson joked about giving up the house, “I have to pay for the whole house now, which is unfortunate, but I’ll gladly write the cheque for that.”
While Clanton did not qualify for the British Open, he achieved the notable distinction of being the first amateur since Billy Joe Patton in 1958 to finish in the top ten in PGA Tour events for two consecutive weeks.
Overall, Thompson’s victory is a testament to his hard work and persistence, setting a high bar for his future endeavors in professional golf.
