Tag: Thompson

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
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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.

Image:
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
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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.

Image:
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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Women’s PGA Championship: Lexi Thompson leads with Leona Maguire and Charley Hull two shots back after first round | Golf News

Women’s PGA Championship: Lexi Thompson leads with Leona Maguire and Charley Hull two shots back after first round | Golf News
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Lexi Thompson made a fast start as she fired a four-under-par 68 in the opening round of the Women’s PGA Championship, leading Nelly Korda by a shot, and Ireland’s Leona Maguire and England’s Charley Hull by two.

USA’s Thompson, who is retiring from full-time golf on the LPGA Tour at the end of the season, made three straight birdies to start her round at the Sahalee Country Club in Washington state.

She added three more to open a one-shot lead over Korda and Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit.

Hull was among those a shot further back alongside Maguire, with England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff on even par, two better than Georgia Hall, with Bronte Law a further stroke adrift.

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Lexi Thompson, who is retiring at the end of the season, leads the Women’s PGA Championship after the opening round

Yuka Saso, who won the US Open three weeks ago, was among those on 74 after four consecutive bogeys on the back nine.

After finishing runner-up last week, Thompson shrugged off suggestions her retirement announcement had prompted an upturn in form.

“I don’t think that has to do with announcing what I did,” she said. “It’s just a matter of being comfortable out there, playing free-swing Lexi I guess. Just enjoying being out there every step of the way.

“I’m just taking it one day at a time. I made my announcement. I’m very content with it.

“Golf is a crazy game, so I’m not going to look too far ahead. Just taking it one day at a time and see where it takes me.”

Korda missed her last two cuts – having opened with an 80 at the US Open – after winning six of her previous seven starts.

“I’ve seen a lot of first-hand rollercoasters happen in people’s careers,” Korda said.

“I just know that if you stay positive and in your own bubble, you can bounce back. You work hard, you know what you got inside of you, and you just got to go out and execute it.”

Maguire: I’ve been too harsh on myself lately | Hull: I didn’t feel the best but played all right

“I’ve probably have been very harsh on myself,” Maguire said. “I would say lately probably too harsh. I think I’ve had people around me, family, people on my team, tell me you need to be you need to be kinder to yourself.

“So I think that was kind of the message this week, to not really put too much pressure on myself, not have too many expectations and just sort of embrace the challenge that here’s going to bring like any other major.

“I suppose it’s very tempting to try and be too perfect at a major knowing that the sort of consequences are higher if you miss a shot, but yeah, to try and be a little kinder to myself this week was the big goal.”

Hull battled stomach cramps and waiting for her clubs to arrive in the build-up to the tournament.

“I didn’t feel the best, but I woke up this morning and felt fine and played all right, so there you go,” she said.

“I played well out there, hit it well but pulled my hip out with three holes to go, so I need to get physio on that.

“I felt comfortable out there. I love tree-lined golf courses. The tighter it is, the better I play.”

Watch the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Stream the LPGA Tour, majors and more with NOW.

Watch PGA Tour and DP World Tour action live this season on Sky Sports. The 152nd Open at Royal Troon is live from July 18-21 on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour, majors and more with NOW.

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Andy Murray: Three-time Grand Slam champion retires injured at Queen’s against Jordan Thompson | Tennis News

Andy Murray: Three-time Grand Slam champion retires injured at Queen’s against Jordan Thompson | Tennis News
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Andy Murray was forced to retire from his second-round match against Jordan Thompson at The Queen’s Club on Wednesday.

Murray was losing 4-1 in the first set when he pulled out, having received treatment around the lower back area and hips after three games. It was later confirmed Murray had an issue with his back.

The 37-year-old is hoping to play at Wimbledon, which begins on July 1 for what is expected to be his last appearance at the Grand Slam.

“Never the way you want to go through, especially with a great champion like Andy. This tournament he’s dominated and he loves the grass,” said Thompson.

“I was looking forward to coming out and playing in front of everyone. A disappointing way to finish.”

Former British tennis player Naomi Broady looks into what the future may hold for fellow Brits Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu

Murray walked gingerly out onto the court and it quickly became clear he was not moving properly as he lost the opening two games.

He held serve but lost two more games before deciding to retire, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd as he waved to the spectators.

Murray, who only returned to action last month after eight weeks out due to damaged ankle ligaments in late March, is set to play in singles and the men’s doubles alongside brother Jamie Murray at Wimbledon.

Andy Murray got a feeling of what it’s like to chat with himself as he was interviewed by comedian and impressionist Josh Berry.

The Olympic Games in Paris follow with Murray named in Great Britain’s squad after the International Tennis Federation awarded him a place having won singles gold in London 2012 and Rio 2016.

Tennis at the Olympics begins on July 27, with Murray nominated to play singles and men’s doubles with Dan Evans.

He has indicated he will retire after this summer.

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Andy Murray and Jamie Murray played doubles together in the Davis Cup final in 2015, when Great Britain won the tournament

A huge blow for Murray ahead of likely retirement

Sky Sports’ Nigel Chiu:

“This is a massive blow for Murray. He’s come back from injury so many times and got back into the world’s top 40 last year after career-threatening hip surgery in 2019, which no singles player had ever been able to come back from.

“Murray will do everything to play at Wimbledon, even if he’s only 60 per cent fit, but it’s not how he will want to play what will likely be his last appearance at the All-England Club.

“There are less than two weeks until Wimbledon and Murray will surely just rest up as much as possible before the start of July. Maybe this time it’s one step too far for Murray’s body. Can he recover one last time?

“It’s the second injury issue for a British player on two days at Queen’s after Dan Evans slipped and injured his knee.

“Evans said it would be hard to swallow if he misses Wimbledon or the Olympics, so there are two British players now in a race to get fit, but you can’t help but not feel too positive about either of their hopes.”

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LPGA Tour: Lilia Vu beats Lexi Thompson, Grace Kim to win Meijer LPGA Classic ahead of KPMG Women’s PGA Championship | Golf News

LPGA Tour: Lilia Vu beats Lexi Thompson, Grace Kim to win Meijer LPGA Classic ahead of KPMG Women’s PGA Championship | Golf News
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Lilia Vu claimed her first LPGA Tour victory of the season after defeating Lexi Thompson and Grace Kim in a play-off at the Meijer LPGA Classic.

Vu overturned an eight-shot deficit during a thrilling final day at Blythefield Country Club, carding a bogey-free 65 to finish on 16 under alongside Kim – who squandered a five-shot overnight lead – and Thompson.

The trio all birdied the par-five 18th in both the first two extra play-off holes, before Vu carded a winning birdie at the third extra play-off hole – as Thompson and Kim could only make par – to claim her fifth LPGA Tour title and first of the year.

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Lexi Thompson congratulated Lilia Vu after her play-off victory

“I just couldn’t believe it,” Vu said. “I couldn’t believe I won this week. I think I was setting my bar really low so that I could meet it. I think because I tend to get in my own way when I’m trying to win, that’s when I don’t win most of the time, so just trying to stay in my lane, take advantage of all the good shots, and make all the birdie putts that I get.”

Vu’s comeback was one shot larger than last week’s seven-shot deficit overturned by Linnea Strom of Sweden at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, with four birdies over the final six holes helping her post the low round of the day.

Thompson birdied the 18th to card a four-under 68 and tie Vu, while Kim made one birdie and eight pars during the back nine of her final-round 73 and failed to hold on to her sizeable overnight advantage.

Vu won four times in 2023 and will be among the favourites for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, live on Sky Sports, having missed last month’s US Women’s Open while fighting a back injury.

Highlights from the final round of the 2023 AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath, where Lilia Vu claimed her second major title of the season.

“It’s hard to feel 100 per cent, but I think I’ve been 95 per cent and I think, obviously, I played more than 18 holes today, so kind of feeling a little tight,” Vu said. “It’s all good. It’s not the same as before.”

Thompson, the 11-time LPGA Tour winner who announced last month that she will retire from full-time competition at the end of the season, came up just short of ending her five-year title drought.


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“Knowing I was five shots behind starting the day, I knew I had to have the pedal down and make a lot of birdies from the jump,” Thompson said. “I can only control what I can control, so I just tried to focus one shot at a time and play within myself and my emotions. That’s all I could do. Whatever happens with the result happened, so happy with the result.”

Ally Ewing had a string of four straight birdies on her front nine and briefly touched 17 under for the tournament, but a bogey-bogey-birdie finish left her in fourth spot. Allisen Corpuz and South Korea’s Narin An both carded final-round 70s to share fifth.

What’s next?

The women’s major season continues at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, held at Sahalee Country Club in Washington and all four rounds live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins on Thursday from 9pm via the red button and 11pm on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the LPGA, majors and more with NOW.