Davis Thompson qualifies for Open Championship after record-setting win at PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic | Golf News

Davis Thompson qualifies for Open Championship after record-setting win at PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic | Golf News


Davis Thompson put in record-setting performance as he wrapped up victory at the John Deere Classic and secured a spot in the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon.

Thompson’s final total of 28 under par in Illinois eclipsed the previous tournament record of 27 under set by Michael Kim in 2017 and earned him a first PGA Tour title as well as a debut appearance in the British major from July 18-21.

The 25-year-old carded a seven-under 64 on Sunday to finish four strokes clear of CT Pan, Michael Thorbjornsen and amateur Luke Clanton, with Pan securing the second Open qualification spot by virtue of having the higher world ranking.

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CT Pan will tee it up at the Open Championship for the first time since 2021

Thompson led fellow American Eric Cole and England’s Aaron Rai by two strokes heading into the final round and never looked in danger of being caught as he birdied five of his first six holes at TPC Deere Run and reached the turn in 29.

The Georgian – who came joint-second at last week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic after a ninth-placed finish at the US Open in June – saw his lead trimmed to three shots after he bogeyed 12 with Thorbjornsen making six birdies on the trot between eight and 13.

However, Thompson birdied 14 to effectively clinch victory with Thorbjornsen bogeying the same hole before picking up a birdie at 18 to end up alongside Pan and Clanton at 24 under.

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Thompson told CBS: “Qualifying for the Open was just an added incentive into this. The goal was to win the golf tournament after getting off to a great start and I was able to finish it off.”

Bizarrely, the winner of this tournament has stayed in the same rental house for three years running, with Thompson following in the footsteps of JT Poston in 2022 and last year’s winner Sepp Straka.

Clanton – who played the back nine in six under – became the first amateur to finish in the top 10 in back-to-back starts on the PGA Tour since 1958 having come 10th at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

England’s Rai ended up tied for seventh at the John Deere Classic after a two-under 69, with compatriot Harry Hall a further stroke back in a tie for 12th after closing with a six-under 65 that featured eight birdies and a double bogey.

Watch the 152nd Open Championship, from Royal Troon, live on Sky Sports Golf from 6.30am on Thursday July 18.

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PGA Tour: Davis Thompson two ahead of Aaron Rai going into John Deere Classic final round | Golf News

PGA Tour: Davis Thompson two ahead of Aaron Rai going into John Deere Classic final round | Golf News


American Davis Thompson fired nine birdies in a third-round 62 to take a two-shot lead into the final day of the John Deere Classic.

Soft conditions on the TPC Deere Run in Illinois continued to bring low scores, Thompson moving to 21 under par – two clear of England’s Aaron Rai and fellow American Eric Cole.

“I guess it was just my day today,” said Thompson, who is seeking his first PGA Tour victory. “The guys behind me are playing really well.

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Aaron Rai is two off the lead with 18 holes remaining

“I know it’s going to be tough to finish off a golf tournament, but I’ve done it before. I just have to stay present-minded.”

With the final day being played in threesomes with a delayed start in a bid to beat storms, Rai, co-leader after the second round, will play in the last group for the second successive week.

He had six birdies in a round of 66 as he bids to go one better than his second place at the Rocket Mortgage Classic last week.

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Hayden Springer, who shot a 59 on the opening day, is a further two strokes back on 17 under par after a 66, alongside Taiwan’s CT Pan.

Rookie Michael Thorbjohnsen and amateur Luke Clanton are among those on 16 under par, while a third-round 70 saw England’s Harry Hall tumble down the leaderboard to seven shots adrift.

Watch the final round of the John Deere Classic live on Sky Sports Golf from 5pm on Sunday.

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PGA Tour: England’s Aaron Rai shares halfway lead at John Deere Classic with Harry Hall one back | Golf News

PGA Tour: England’s Aaron Rai shares halfway lead at John Deere Classic with Harry Hall one back | Golf News


England’s Aaron Rai shares the lead at the halfway stage of the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic with countryman Harry Hall just a shot further back.

Rai – who topped the leaderboard going into the final round of last week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic before eventually finishing in a tie for second behind Cameron Davis – shot a bogey-free, eight-under 63 in Illinois on Friday to rise to 14 under for the event.

CT Pan matched Rai’s efforts on the day – the Taiwanese player’s blemish-free round featured a 100-foot chip for eagle at the 14th – and he is locked with the Englishman at the head of the field.

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England’s Harry Hall registered five birdies on a blemish-free Friday

The pair are one stroke clear of Hall, who shot a five-under 66, and two better off than a group of six players on 12 under, including Hayden Springer and Sungjae Im.

Springer carded a 59 in his opening round but had to settle for an even-par 71 a day later as he missed a three-foot par putt and also carded a double-bogey late on at TPC Deere Run.

He said: “It wasn’t too bad. It was a little windier today, probably played a little tougher.

“I kind of hit some bumps on the back nine but more just mental errors and not making those short putts than anything else.”

The best of Hayden Springer’s first round at the John Deere Classic, as the American shot only the 14th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history

Rai continues fine form

Rai, Hall and Springer are each looking to land their first PGA Tour titles, although Rai has won twice on the DP World Tour, including at the 2020 Scottish Open when he beat Tommy Fleetwood in a play-off.

Rai said: “I’ve been playing well tee-to-green for large parts of this season and that’s kind of continued over the last few weeks.

England's Aaron Rai during round two of 2024 John Deere Classic (Getty Images)
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England’s Aaron Rai shot an eight-under 68 in the second round of the John Deere Classic

“A couple of weeks ago I spent quite a while on the green. My dad gave me a couple of tips.

“I’ve started working with John Graham as well, a putting coach who is based out here. Putting all that together has definitely translated onto the course.”

C.T. Pan, PGA Tour Golf (Associated Press)
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CT Pan’s sole victory on the PGA Tour to date came at the 2019 RBC Heritage when he beat Matt Kuchar by one stroke

Two-time John Deere Classic champion Jordan Spieth notched two late birdies to make the cut with a four-under 67 but is eight shots adrift heading into the weekend at six under par.

The 2013 and 2015 winner said: “We had yesterday morning with no wind and a chance to really take advantage.

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“I had 18 holes of a couple under yesterday, and unless you’re absolutely perfect from there, there is not much of a chance of winning.

“That doesn’t mean you don’t go out and try and shoot 10 under the next day.”

Watch the third round of the John Deere Classic live on Sky Sports Golf from 5pm on Saturday. Coverage of the final round then begins at 5pm on Sunday.

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PGA Tour: Hayden Springer shoots historic 59 at John Deere Classic | Golf News

PGA Tour: Hayden Springer shoots historic 59 at John Deere Classic | Golf News


Hayden Springer has become the 14th player to record a sub-60 round on the PGA Tour after shooting a 12-under 59 in the first round of the John Deere Classic.

Springer carded eight birdies and two eagles, holing from just outside 12 feet on the final green for the last of his birdies to break the 60 barrier.

The 27-year-old American fired an eight under 27 on the front nine at TPC Deere Run, the lowest nine-hole score on Tour since 2000, then went quiet for several holes. He was nine under thru 16 holes when he holed out from the rough for eagle at the par-five 17th.

That put him one birdie away from the elusive 59. He found the centre of the 18th fairway, put his second shot about 12 feet from the pin and drained the putt.

His feat comes less than two weeks after Cam Young shot 59 at the Travelers Championship which was the first 59 since 2020. Jim Furyk holds the PGA Tour record with a 58 at the 2016 Travelers Championship and he has also carded a 59, along with Scottie Scheffler, Kevin Chappell, Brandt Snedeker, Adam Hadwin, Justin Thomas, Stuart Appleby, Paul Goydos, David Duval, Chip Beck, and Al Geiberger.

“I am feeling good. I am kind of at a loss for words in terms of being able to do that,” said Springer after signing his card.

“It is one of those rare things in golf, so to have that opportunity and pull it off is pretty special.

Springer struggled to contain his emotion after shooting a historic 59 in round one at the John Deere Classic

“It is special to be able to do that. I played well last week but it has been a little bit tough to find anything and get stuff going and go low.

“It is special. It feels good to be standing here and to have had a good round of golf.

“I didn’t actually think I could make that shot [on 17] but I did and that kind of changed the momentum.”

Hayden Springer of the United States reacts after a birdie putt on the 18th hole for a score of 59 in the first round of the John Deere Classic
Image:
Springer celebrates after holing his birdie putt on the 18th hole for a score of 59

Springer had missed seven of his last nine cuts but did finish 10th at last week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic.

He is ranked 236th in the world and has never won on the PGA Tour. He turned pro in 2019 but, after losing his card, he earned his way back on tour via Q-school last December.


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