Davis Thompson Eyes Repeat Win at John Deere Classic
Davis Thompson is focused on securing a repeat victory at the John Deere Classic, aiming to claim his second win in the tournament this Sunday. The event has seen intense competition, with several players closely following in the race for the title.
During the third round, Thompson made a crucial 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole, breaking out of a tight group that included 10 players tied for the lead. His performance was marked by a 4-under 67 on a more challenging course, placing him one shot ahead of several competitors.
Thompson was among five players tied for the lead when he made his final putt, after Brian Campbell had successfully converted a 30-foot birdie. This move brought Thompson to 15-under 198, putting him just ahead of Campbell, Max Homa, Emiliano Grillo, and David Lipsky, who all carded a 68.
One player who did not make the cut was Doug Ghim, who struggled during the final 10 holes, posting two bogeys and no birdies, resulting in a 74. This performance pushed him outside the top 20.
Despite missing an 8-foot eagle attempt on the par-5 17th hole, Thompson finished with a strong birdie-birdie finish. He now has the opportunity to become the first player to win back-to-back titles at the John Deere Classic since Steve Stricker achieved this feat from 2009 through 2011.
Additionally, a victory could help Thompson qualify for the British Open, as it would place him at the top of the alternate list based on the next world ranking.
The final 18 holes are expected to be a tough challenge, with many players still in contention heading into Sunday. “Nice to have some momentum going into tomorrow,” Thompson said.
Other notable players include Camilo Villegas, who shot a 69, and Austin Eckroat, who recorded a 67. Both were among four players three shots behind the leader. Matt Kuchar and Auburn junior Jackson Koivun were in a group four shots back. A total of 13 players were within four shots of the lead.
Among the top 14 players, only Lipsky, Koivun, and Kevin Roy have yet to secure a PGA Tour victory. Homa, the most experienced among them, has been working to recover from a recent slump that has kept him outside the PGA Tour playoffs this year.
Homa maintained steady play throughout the day, despite a rare miss on the par-5 10th hole, where he was 40 yards left of the green. He managed to escape with a par and then capitalized on scoring opportunities on the back nine for his 68. Homa’s last PGA Tour win came in January 2023 at Torrey Pines. His performance this year has drawn attention due to his poor form, with over a year having passed since his last top 10 finish. He has also undergone changes in coaching, equipment, and caddies.
“Golf has just been very boring for me this year. I haven’t had a whole lot of stress, and you want to be stressed out. So I look forward to the butterflies in the morning; I look forward to the first tee shot,” Homa said. “It’s just nice to get to feel that again. It’s been a while.”
The course conditions have changed significantly compared to the opening rounds, with starting times moved up to avoid afternoon thunderstorms. Hot weather and wind have made the greens firmer and faster, with pins tucked along the edges, making missed shots more punishing.
No one shot lower than 66 in the third round, marking a stark contrast to the low scores seen in the first two rounds, which included 28 scores of 65 or better.
“Certainly makes for a fun Sunday when a bunch of guys have a chance,” Kuchar remarked.
One player to watch is Koivun, who is four shots back but still has a chance to make history by becoming the second amateur to win a PGA Tour event in consecutive years. Nick Dunlap won The American Express last year and turned pro, earning $20 million in signature events.
Koivun has already secured a PGA Tour card through the PGA Tour University accelerated program but has chosen to defer it to return to Auburn. “It’s obviously very inspiring to see what he did about a year ago now,” Koivun said. “Obviously, to be one of the few (amateurs) to win a professional event would be great. At the end of the day I just got to go give it my best shot and be happy with the result.”
