Golf: Michael Thompson Improves PGA Status With Honda Win

I’m a golf fan just like you. My visions of the 2013 season were of quality golf tournaments, like The Honda Classic, that had a World Class field, with Rory McIlroy, and Tiger Woods coming down the stretch in battles that would rival Nicklaus/Trevino, Snead/Hogan, or even Palmer/Nicklaus. Sunday afternoon at PGA National would not be the site of such a battle. Or was it?

June 14, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; Michael Thompson reacts after his birdie putt on the 18th hole during the first round of the 112th U.S. Open golf tournament at The Olympic Club. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

Rory McIlroy walked off The PGA National Champion Course on Friday afternoon citing problems with his head. Not sure if it was a toothache, or problems with his golf game, but whatever the case, he left. Tiger Woods struggled with his golf game throughout the week, and could only muster even par until Sunday, when it got worse, but obviously, they were not present to supply the excitement I had anticipated.

Sunday afternoon at The Honda Classic turned out great. Michael Thompson battled the elements, a tough competitor in rookie, Luke Gutherie, and a forgotten veteran trying to get his status back. Everybody won. Michael Thompson won his first PGA Championship, Luke Guthrie got close, and learned not to double cross his driver when under pressure, and we saw a Tigeresque chip-in from Geoff Oglivy at the 16th hole with the gallery spilling beer on him. What more could we ask for.

"“This week was magical,” Thompson said. “Just had a groove and kept feeling it.”"

All three players improved their status on the tour, Thompson gets an invite to Doral for next week’s WGC-Cadillac event, and should be on the guest list at Augusta next month. Luke Gutherie learned what, and what not to do if he wants to win a tournament, from his playing partner, and Geoff Ogilvy got a little closer to becoming the world class player he was before he, and his golf game fell on hard times.

I kept looking for one of the grizzled veteran in the field to make a run during the final round, but none came. Karma took care of those in need of some good luck, and that all important status on the PGA Tour. No Rory, No Tiger,…No Problem.

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