Defending champion grabs lead on PGA Tour
Thompson shot a four-under 67 at TPC Deere Run on Saturday to reach 15-under 198, one shot ahead of Brian Campbell, Max Homa, Emiliano Grillo and David Lipsky, each of whom had a 68.
Thompson was among five players tied for the lead when he stood over his final putt, after Campbell had just holed a 30-foot birdie putt.
About the only player not in the mix was 36-hole leader Doug Ghim, who played his last 10 holes with two bogeys and no birdies and shot 74, pushing him outside the top 20.
Thompson had a birdie-birdie finish as he tries to become the first player to win back-to-back at the John Deere Classic since Steve Stricker won three in a row from 2009 through 2011.
Also at stake for Thompson is a chance to get into the British Open, as a victory would move him to the top of the alternate list determined by the next world ranking.
"Nice to have some momentum going into tomorrow," Thompson said.
But the final 18 holes feels a lot longer off considering how many players are very much in the mix going into Sunday.
Seamus Power (68), Kurt Kitayama (66), Camilo Villegas (69) and Austin Eckroat (67) were tied sixth, three shots behind. Thirteen players were within four shots of the lead.
Of the top 14 players, only Lipsky, amateur Jackson Koivun and Kevin Roy have yet to win on the PGA Tour.
Homa is the most proven of the lot, though he has been trying to pull himself out of a deep slump that has left him on the outside of just trying to make the PGA Tour playoffs this year.
Homa last won on the PGA Tour in January 2023 at Torrey Pines. He has been under scrutiny this year for his poor form — more than a year since his last top 10 — while changing coaches, equipment and twice changing 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.
This was not the same TPC Deere Run that yielded low scores over the opening two rounds. The starting times were moved up to avoid afternoon thunderstorms, and hot weather and wind combined to make the greens firmer and fasters. Plus, several of the pins were tucked along the edges, punishing misses on the wrong side.
No one shot lower than 66 in the third round. There were 28 scores of 65 or better over the opening two rounds.
Defending champion Davis Thompson has made a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to break out of a logjam and lead going into the final round of the John Deere Classic.
Thompson shot a four-under 67 at TPC Deere Run on Saturday to reach 15-under 198, one shot ahead of Brian Campbell, Max Homa, Emiliano Grillo and David Lipsky, each of whom had a 68.
Thompson was among five players tied for the lead when he stood over his final putt, after Campbell had just holed a 30-foot birdie putt.
About the only player not in the mix was 36-hole leader Doug Ghim, who played his last 10 holes with two bogeys and no birdies and shot 74, pushing him outside the top 20.
Thompson had a birdie-birdie finish as he tries to become the first player to win back-to-back at the John Deere Classic since Steve Stricker won three in a row from 2009 through 2011.
Also at stake for Thompson is a chance to get into the British Open, as a victory would move him to the top of the alternate list determined by the next world ranking.
"Nice to have some momentum going into tomorrow," Thompson said.
But the final 18 holes feels a lot longer off considering how many players are very much in the mix going into Sunday.
Seamus Power (68), Kurt Kitayama (66), Camilo Villegas (69) and Austin Eckroat (67) were tied sixth, three shots behind. Thirteen players were within four shots of the lead.
Of the top 14 players, only Lipsky, amateur Jackson Koivun and Kevin Roy have yet to win on the PGA Tour.
Homa is the most proven of the lot, though he has been trying to pull himself out of a deep slump that has left him on the outside of just trying to make the PGA Tour playoffs this year.
Homa last won on the PGA Tour in January 2023 at Torrey Pines. He has been under scrutiny this year for his poor form — more than a year since his last top 10 — while changing coaches, equipment and twice changing 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.
This was not the same TPC Deere Run that yielded low scores over the opening two rounds. The starting times were moved up to avoid afternoon thunderstorms, and hot weather and wind combined to make the greens firmer and fasters. Plus, several of the pins were tucked along the edges, punishing misses on the wrong side.
No one shot lower than 66 in the third round. There were 28 scores of 65 or better over the opening two rounds.
Defending champion Davis Thompson has made a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to break out of a logjam and lead going into the final round of the John Deere Classic.
Thompson shot a four-under 67 at TPC Deere Run on Saturday to reach 15-under 198, one shot ahead of Brian Campbell, Max Homa, Emiliano Grillo and David Lipsky, each of whom had a 68.
Thompson was among five players tied for the lead when he stood over his final putt, after Campbell had just holed a 30-foot birdie putt.
About the only player not in the mix was 36-hole leader Doug Ghim, who played his last 10 holes with two bogeys and no birdies and shot 74, pushing him outside the top 20.
Thompson had a birdie-birdie finish as he tries to become the first player to win back-to-back at the John Deere Classic since Steve Stricker won three in a row from 2009 through 2011.
Also at stake for Thompson is a chance to get into the British Open, as a victory would move him to the top of the alternate list determined by the next world ranking.
"Nice to have some momentum going into tomorrow," Thompson said.
But the final 18 holes feels a lot longer off considering how many players are very much in the mix going into Sunday.
Seamus Power (68), Kurt Kitayama (66), Camilo Villegas (69) and Austin Eckroat (67) were tied sixth, three shots behind. Thirteen players were within four shots of the lead.
Of the top 14 players, only Lipsky, amateur Jackson Koivun and Kevin Roy have yet to win on the PGA Tour.
Homa is the most proven of the lot, though he has been trying to pull himself out of a deep slump that has left him on the outside of just trying to make the PGA Tour playoffs this year.
Homa last won on the PGA Tour in January 2023 at Torrey Pines. He has been under scrutiny this year for his poor form — more than a year since his last top 10 — while changing coaches, equipment and twice changing 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.
This was not the same TPC Deere Run that yielded low scores over the opening two rounds. The starting times were moved up to avoid afternoon thunderstorms, and hot weather and wind combined to make the greens firmer and fasters. Plus, several of the pins were tucked along the edges, punishing misses on the wrong side.
No one shot lower than 66 in the third round. There were 28 scores of 65 or better over the opening two rounds.
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