Tucsonan Michael Thompson is the front runner in the 112th U.S. Open. Thompson, age 27, competing in only his third major, is beating the world’s top golfer, including Tiger Woods, who is in a five-way tie for second with David Toms, Justin Rose, Graeme McDowell and Nick Watney.
The modest Thompson told Golf Week magazine that “This is just a bonus in my career. I’m not guaranteed into all the majors. And then to have it be on one of my most favorite golf courses in the world, even better. He called the event “fun.”
Thompson, an Eagle Scout, turned pro in 2008 as the world’s No. 1 amateur. He spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons on the Hooters Tour, working on his wing. He was the Hooters Tour’s Player of the Year in 2010, and earned his first PGA Tour card at that year’s Q-School. As a rookie in 2011, he was 98th on the money list, including two top-5 finishes, according to Golf Week.
Thompson earned the low-amateur honor at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.