Michael Thompson wins The Honda Classic

Michael Thompson of the USA secured his first PGA Tour title with a two-shot victory in The Honda Classic over Geoff Ogilvy of Australia at the PGA National Champion Course, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Michael Thompson wins The Honda Classic (Getty Images)
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Michael Thompson of the USA secured his first PGA Tour title with a two-shot victory in The Honda Classic over Geoff Ogilvy of Australia at the PGA National Champion Course, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

In testing, windy conditions, Thompson fired an excellent closing round of 69 to post a nine-under-par total. Two weeks ago he missed the cut in the Northern Trust Open by 14 shots and was dead last, this time out he finished at the opposite end of the leaderboard.

The 27-year-old has earned a start in next week's WGC-Cadillac Championship and the USPGA Championship. He also has a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour.

"This is a childhood dream come true," he said. "I've dreamed of playing out here since I was 7 years old and to win, it's just unbelievable. I just can't put it into words. The whole day was awesome."

"That shot (the 5-wood) sealed the deal for me," he said. "It allowed me to walk up the fairway and enjoy the experience."

Although disappointed to miss out on victory, Ogilvy could console himself with the fact that the runner's-up finish was enough to secure his place in next week's World Golf Championship event.

"I'd kind of pencilled in a week off," he said. "So it's nice and I'm back in the mix for the Masters."

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?