Michael Thompson victorious in Minnesota with 3M Open win
Michael Thompson won his second PGA Tour title after claiming the 3M Open.
Michael Thompson held his nerve in Minnesota to win his second PGA Tour title at the 3M Open on Sunday.
A host of players were breathing down Thompson's neck but the American produced some fantastic golf over the final few holes, first by reclaiming the outright lead with an incredible sand save to make birdie at 16, before making a par at the par-3 17th and finishing with a birdie at the last to beat Adam Long by two shots.
What it's all about.
An emotional Michael Thompson discusses why winning the @3MOpen means so much. pic.twitter.com/8ulQJBQaiB
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 26, 2020
Long just about made the cut before he produced a sensational weekend performance that saw him shoot a 63 on Saturday and 64 on Sunday to leave him in second place all on his own, while eight players took a share of third, including Tony Finau, 2011 Masters winner Charl Schwartzel and European fan-favourite Alex Noren.
Thompson started slowly and found himself 1-over par through the first four holes, but back-to-back birdies followed at the 5th and 6th to help him reach the turn at 1-under par.
The 35-year-old found a fairway bunker from the tee at the 10th, but his approach landed to 10 feet and Thompson made no mistake with the putt, rolling it in for birdie.
Thompson then went on a steady run making five consecutive pars, before his second shot out of the bunker at the 16th left him a a tap-in for birdie to take the lead.
40-yard bunker shots are not supposed to look this easy.
Michael Thompson takes the outright lead @3MOpen. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/jjnfBk5gIk
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 26, 2020
A solid par at 17 was followed up with a birdie at the par-5 18th to seal Thompson's second PGA Tour victory, his first since his maiden win at the 2013 Honda Classic.
