"This win validates the first win. It solidifies kind of my presence on the PGA Tour and proves too my peers that I'm a threat every week and that's what I want to be".
These words could be from anyone of hundreds of pro golfers who fill out the numbers each week on the PGA and European Tours, this weekend they were from 35 year old journeyman Micheal Thompson who used a shot of the year candidate, to score -19 over 4 rounds to win the 3M Open.
He last won in 2013 at the Honda Classic, and after that 2 year exempt status, he and guys who were just behind him this week, Charles Howell, Adam Long, Max Homa, Robby Shelton play from year to year staying inside the top 125, hoping every week will be like this one for Thompson.
So apart from over $1m, he is exempt until 2022-23, 39th in the world, in the WGC later this week and the US Open in the fall, along with the Fed Ex Cup playoffs.
****** Watch for his 50 yard bunker shot to within 3 feet at the 16th for birdie to be the shot of the year. It gave him the cushion he needed. ******
Michael Gligic started on Thursday with +1 72, then made the -2 cut on the number with a 68. Another 68 on Saturday at -5 had him in the middle of the pack, until he made 6 birdies on his first nine on Sunday, added another after the turn to go -7 through 10 holes.
A bogey stalled his run at the 2nd (his 11th), and then 7 straight pars for his 65 T26 at -11. A great round, and one with a putt here or there over his final 7 holes could have been epic.
The big boys will return later this week for the WGC St Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind in Memphis while the also rans will be at Lake Tahoe for the Barracuda Championship.
Then it's the years first major, the PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco.
Bryan Angus
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