Mandatory Credit: Eric Sucar-USA TODAY Sports
Michael Thompson is the latest winner in the Web.com Tour Finals, seizing victory at the Albertsons Boise Open.
The second leg of the Web.com Tour Finals is in the books, and what an event it was. Low scores and birdies littered the week at the Albertsons Boise Open, but it was ultimately Alabama resident Michael Thompson who rose to the top. The six-year PGA Tour veteran shot four rounds in the 60s to pick up his third victory as a professional.
While Thompson’s win was the biggest development, there were a number of other takeaways from the week at Hillcrest. A popular international star came out of the woodwork to compete for the win, while other notable players reestablished their good form while playing one of the game’s lower circuits.
We’re now at the halfway point of the Web.com Tour Finals. Here are the three biggest takeaways from the Albertsons Boise Open.
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Michael Thompson Still Has Some Game
The 2015-16 season wasn’t exactly a banner one for Michael Thompson — after regaining his PGA Tour card via last year’s Web.com Tour Finals, the Alabama product notched just eight top 50 finishes, ending up in 145th place in FedEx Cup points.
Those struggles contrast sharply with the success he enjoyed in the early part of his career. The 2007 U.S. Amateur runner-up and 2008 SEC Player of the Year, Thompson entered the pro ranks with an outstanding pedigree. While the Arizona never transformed into a star, he did experience his share of success, with a win at the 2013 Honda Classic and a share of second place at the 2012 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club standing as his career highlights.
The last three years haven’t been nearly as productive for Thompson, now 31, but he was able to turn back the clock on Sunday at Hillcrest. After sleeping on a share of the 54-hole lead, he reeled off a bogey-free 64 to claim victory on the second leg of the Web.com Tour Finals, locking up his PGA Tour card for next season. He led the field in putts per GIR and tied for fourth in driving accuracy, lifting him to his first professional win in more than three years.
We know from experience that Web.com Tour Finals wins don’t always translate to PGA Tour success. But Michael Thompson flashed some real form on Sunday, and for now, the spotlight is his to enjoy.
Mandatory Credit: Eric Sucar-USA TODAY Sports
Get Ready: Beef is Coming to America
With the Race to Dubai Final Series fast approaching, most European Tour stars are on the other side of the pond jockeying for position — but not Andrew Johnston. The popular Englishman, known as “Beef” to most fans, decided to head stateside to try for a 2016-17 PGA Tour card.
The results have been impressive through the first two events. Johnston has notched back-to-back top 30s to start the Finals, and his solo fourth at the Albertsons Boise Open should give him plenty of breathing room on the money list. While he missed a chance to win — he was the 36-hole leader in Idaho — he can’t be disappointed with his performance so far.
Johnston plans on playing both sides of the pond next season, so we could be looking at golf’s newest two-way star. But even if he doesn’t reach the game’s elite ranks, you’ll start to see a lot more Beef on your television screens next year.
Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Scott Stallings Has Rounded Into Form
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Once one of the PGA Tour’s brighter young stars, Scott Stallings has definitely fallen off from where he was a few years ago. After logging three wins between 2011 and 2014, the Tennessee Tech product hasn’t notched a PGA Tour top 10 since last October, and he finished 128th in the FedEx Cup this year, sending him to the Web.com Tour Finals.
But in spite of his recent form, Stallings seems to have found another gear over the past few weeks. After tying for sixth at the DAP Championship, Stallings kept it going with a tie for fifth at the Albertsons Boise Open, holding a share of the 54-hole lead before fading on Sunday. While he stumbled on the back nine, he surely enjoyed getting taste of tournament contention.
It’s isn’t necessarily a major turning point for Stallings, but you’d be surprised by how often these lower-tier events can rejuvenate a player’s game. Keep an eye on him going forward.
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What was your favorite moment from the Boise Open? Let us know in the comments, and keep it here for more updates from the Web.com Tour Finals.
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