Michael Thompson (golfer)
Encyclopedia
Michael H. Thompson is an American
professional golfer
who is currently on the PGA Tour
.
in Tucson, Arizona
from 1999 to 2003. While there he won the Class 4A state team championship in 2003, and was named the Arizona High School State Player of the Year in 2002 and 2003. Thompson attended Tulane University
two seasons until they disbanded their golf team after Hurricane Katrina
. Thompson then transferred to the University of Alabama
. While playing on Alabama's golf team
, Thompson was the 2008 SEC Player of the Year.
Thompson was a finalist in the 2007 U.S. Amateur, losing to Colt Knost
2 & 1. This earned him invitations to the 2008 Masters Tournament
and the 2008 U.S. Open
. He missed the cut in the Masters but was the low amateur at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines
, shooting a nine-over-par 292 to finish in 28th place. The following week he was invited to play in the Travelers Championship, where he made the cut and shot a three-under-par 277 to finish tied for 58th.
before turning professional in July 2008. In 2010 Thompson played on the Hooters Tour, and was named the 2010 Hooters Tour Player of the Year.
In the 2010 PGA Tour
Q-School, Thompson finished tied for 16th, earning him a 2011 PGA Tour card
. Thompson's best finish is a third at the 2011 McGladrey Classic
.
, and a Emory University
graduate. She caddied for Thompson during his only win on the regular Hooters Tour. The two met while attending Tulane University
together.
LA = Low Amateur
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
who is currently on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
.
Amateur career
Thompson attended University High SchoolUniversity High School (Tucson)
University High School is an accelerated public high school located in Tucson, Arizona, originally known as Special Projects High School , University High School is in the Tucson Unified School District...
in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
from 1999 to 2003. While there he won the Class 4A state team championship in 2003, and was named the Arizona High School State Player of the Year in 2002 and 2003. Thompson attended Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
two seasons until they disbanded their golf team after Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. Thompson then transferred to the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
. While playing on Alabama's golf team
Alabama Crimson Tide golf
The Alabama Crimson Tide golf teams represents the University of Alabama located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and competes in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Southeastern Conference...
, Thompson was the 2008 SEC Player of the Year.
Thompson was a finalist in the 2007 U.S. Amateur, losing to Colt Knost
Colt Knost
Colt Knost is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour.-Amateur career:Knost was born in Cleveland, Ohio and grew up in Pilot Point, Texas. He was the Class 3A State Champion his senior year of 2003. He graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2007. While at SMU,...
2 & 1. This earned him invitations to the 2008 Masters Tournament
2008 Masters Tournament
The 2008 Masters Tournament was a golf competition held at Augusta National Golf Club from April 10-13. It was the 72nd Masters Tournament, and the first major of the 2008 season. Trevor Immelman won with a score of -8 . Defending champion Zach Johnson finished tied for 20th at +3...
and the 2008 U.S. Open
2008 U.S. Open Golf Championship
The 2008 United States Open Championship was the 108th U.S. Open, played from June 12 to June 16 at Torrey Pines, north of San Diego. The U.S. Open was held at the Torrey Pines for the first time, and took place on the South Course. Tiger Woods won his third U.S...
. He missed the cut in the Masters but was the low amateur at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines
Torrey Pines Golf Course
Torrey Pines Golf Course is a municipal public golf course owned by the city of San Diego, California. It sits on the coastal cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the community of La Jolla south of Torrey Pines State Reserve. It has two famous golf courses, the North Course and the South Course....
, shooting a nine-over-par 292 to finish in 28th place. The following week he was invited to play in the Travelers Championship, where he made the cut and shot a three-under-par 277 to finish tied for 58th.
Professional career
Thompson spent one week as number one in the World Amateur Golf RankingWorld Amateur Golf Ranking
The World Amateur Golf Ranking for men was introduced by the R&A, the governing body of amateur golf outside the United States and Mexico, on 23 January 2007. It is based on the results of over 750 amateur tournaments and is updated weekly. Rankings are based on the players' average performances in...
before turning professional in July 2008. In 2010 Thompson played on the Hooters Tour, and was named the 2010 Hooters Tour Player of the Year.
In the 2010 PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
Q-School, Thompson finished tied for 16th, earning him a 2011 PGA Tour card
2010 PGA Tour Qualifying School Graduates
This is a list of the 29 players who earned their 2011 PGA Tour card through Q School in 2010. Note: Michael Putnam and Justin Hicks had already qualified for the PGA Tour by placing in the Top 25 during the 2010 Nationwide Tour season; they did not count among the Top 25 Q school graduates, but...
. Thompson's best finish is a third at the 2011 McGladrey Classic
McGladrey Classic
The McGladrey Classic is a golf tournament on the PGA Tour named for its main sponsor, McGladrey, an accounting, tax and business consulting firm. It had its first playing in October 2010 in St. Simons Island, Georgia at the Sea Island Seaside Golf Club...
.
Personal life
Thompson is married to Rachel Thompson (no relation), who is a Doctor of Physical TherapyPhysical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
, and a Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
graduate. She caddied for Thompson during his only win on the regular Hooters Tour. The two met while attending Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
together.
Results in major championships
| Tournament | 2008 |
|---|---|
| The Masters | CUT |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
T28 LA |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
DNP |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
DNP |
LA = Low Amateur
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.