This previous week, the John Deere Classic confirmed off some youthful muscle.
Towards the highest of the leaderboard sat a number of younger golfers who made TPC Deere run look simple.
Davis Thompson, a 25-year-old, set a brand new scoring file en path to profitable his first PGA Tour occasion.
Two of the three golfers tied for second place performed collegiately earlier this 12 months in, Michael Thorbjornsen and present novice Luke Clanton.
The Florida State rising junior recorded his second straight Top 10 end, a feat that an novice has not accomplished in nearly 70 years. He grew to become the primary novice since Billy Joe Patton did so in 1957 on the U.S. Open and The Masters.
“We got here into the week with fairly excessive expectations,” Clanton stated. “I suppose I reached that expectation for certain. Of course, you need to win. But once more, to do what I did on the market at present was superior. It’s only a blessing to be right here, man. It’s unreal to make a birdie on the final gap and do all that. Seeing Michael play effectively, it was simply superior.”
The teenager went 63-67-67-63 on the week. Clanton was fairly quiet on the entrance 9 Sunday morning, however the 20-year-old kicked it up a notch as soon as he made the flip. He got here house in 30 strokes, birding 4 of his final 5 holes.
Clanton will tee it up for the third straight occasion on the ISCO Championship this week.
Thornbjornsen, in his third begin since incomes his Tour card by PGA Tour U, completed tied for second place and gained $712,000. The former Stanford golfer fired off an 8-under 63 within the remaining spherical to maneuver up 4 spots.
That push was large for him transferring ahead. He missed the reduce on the Rocket Mortgage Classic, however to return out and end as a runner-up is actually spectacular.
“It does lots. I knew I wanted an enormous spherical,” Thorbjornsen stated. “Can’t try to make all the things. It simply involves you. I set myself up one of the simplest ways I in all probability might.”
“Even although the motive force wasn’t working nice on some holes, once I did hit it effectively I took benefit of it — Stuck a whole lot of my photographs shut. Probably one of the best iron play that I had this week. So, yeah, it simply clicks, and issues went my means at present.”
Thompson earned his victory in his 62nd begin. He was the twenty fourth PGA Tour participant to win for the primary time on the John Deere Classic.
These are simply three of the kids surging on Tour proper now. One might recommend there’s a motion occurring proper now. The younger guys are taking up. They are coming to the Korn Ferry and PGA Tour with rather more expertise enjoying in opposition to sturdy gamers and dealing with the stress.
College golf is uber-competitive, which helps them make a neater transition onto the skilled circuit. This efficiency ought to put veterans on excessive alert. While they nonetheless have expertise serving to them, these younger guys are popping out prepared.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For extra golf protection, observe us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You may observe her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
