Former Alabama Golfer Michael Thompson Notches First PGA Tour Win

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Alabama’s most notable golfer in recent memory notched his first win on the PGA Tour on Sunday. Micael Thompson, the 2008 SEC Player of the Year, finished two strokes ahead of Geoff Ogilvy in the Honda Classic golf tournament in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Thompson’s victory earned him $1,080,000, but the win also gave him one of the most coveted spots in golf, a spot in the the Masters. This year’s trip to the Masters will be Michael Thompson’s second as a pro golfer. He also competed in Augusta in the 2008 Masters Tournament as the 2007 U.S. Amateur runner-up.

Michael Thompson’s victory on Sunday is the culmination of a long journey with many twists and turns. Thompson was once a member of the Tulane University golf team before enrolling in Alabama. He decided to head to Tuscaloosa after Hurricane Katrina forced Tulane to disband their golf team following the 2005 storm.

Thompson’s final-round of 69 was good enough to seal the deal. He also finished 9-under for the tournament. Sunday’s win earns Thompson 500 FedEx Cup points and moved him into 11th place in the standings. The win also gets him into next week’s World Golf Championship event in Miami, Fla., on the TPC Blue Monster Course at Doral.

Alabama head golf coach, Jay Seawell, offered his thoughts on Thompson via a press release by the university, “I am so proud of Michael. He has worked so hard and this is a great moment for him and his wife Rachel. He has always represented Alabama golf with class.”

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