Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson Bio

Michael Hayes Thompson is an American professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour. He has won two tournaments on the PGA Tour, with his most recent victory coming at the 2020 3M Open. Thompson turned professional in 2008 and is well known for tying for second at the 2012 U.S. Open, his best finish in a major championship. He currently resides in Birmingham, Alabama with his family.

Early Life and Background

Michael Hayes Thompson was born on April 16, 1985, in Tucson, Arizona. He grew up in the same city and attended University High School from 1999 to 2003. During his time there, he was named the Arizona High School State Player of the Year in both 2002 and 2003, and he helped his team win the Class 4A state team championship in 2003. Outside of golf, he attained the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America while still in high school, reflecting a strong personal discipline that carried into his sporting career.

Thompson went on to attend Tulane University for two seasons, where he played on the golf team until the program was disbanded following Hurricane Katrina. He then transferred to the University of Alabama, where he continued to develop his game at the collegiate level.

Path to Professional Golf

At the University of Alabama, Thompson became one of the top amateur players in the country and was named the 2008 SEC Player of the Year. In 2007, he reached the final of the U.S. Amateur, where he was defeated by Colt Knost by a score of 2 and 1. That runner-up finish earned him invitations to both the 2008 Masters Tournament and the 2008 U.S. Open. He missed the cut at the Masters but earned recognition as the low amateur at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, finishing tied for 28th with a score of 292. The following week, he played in the Travelers Championship, where he made the cut and finished tied for 58th at three under par.

Thompson spent one week ranked number one in the World Amateur Golf Ranking before turning professional in July 2008. His amateur success and major exposure gave him a clear path toward the next phase of his career on the developmental tours.

Michael Thompson Career

Early Career (2008-2010)

After turning professional, Thompson began working his way up through the development tours. In 2010, he played on the Hooters Tour and had a breakout season, being named the 2010 Hooters Tour Player of the Year. That same year, he entered the PGA Tour Q-School and finished tied for 16th, which earned him a full PGA Tour card for the 2011 season.

Those early results showed he could compete at higher levels and set the stage for his move to the PGA Tour, where he would soon make an impact in some of the game’s biggest events.

PGA Tour Breakthrough (2011-2013)

Thompson’s first major moment on the PGA Tour came at the 2012 U.S. Open, played at the Olympic Club. After earning his way into the field through sectional qualifying, he opened with a four-under-par round of 66, which included seven birdies and gave him a three-stroke lead after the first round. He followed that with rounds of 75 and 74 before closing with a three-under-par 67, briefly holding the clubhouse lead at plus two. He finished tied for second with Graeme McDowell, one stroke behind Webb Simpson, and jumped more than 50 spots in the Official World Golf Ranking to 52nd.

He later earned a spot in the 2012 Open Championship as an alternate, but he missed the cut. In 2013, Thompson broke through with his first PGA Tour victory at the Honda Classic. That win moved him to a career-high 45th in the Official World Golf Ranking, up from 114th the week before. He also posted a tied 25th at the Masters and a tied 22nd at the PGA Championship in 2013, showing he could compete across the biggest stages.

Comeback Era (2014-Present)

Following his 2013 win, Thompson had limited success, recording only three combined top-10 finishes in the years that followed. After finishing 145th in the FedEx Cup standings in 2016, he returned to the Web.com Tour Finals, where he won the Albertsons Boise Open to regain his PGA Tour status.

On July 26, 2020, Thompson won the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities outside Minneapolis, Minnesota, earning his second PGA Tour title. The victory came after a tough stretch in which he had missed the cut in seven of his first 11 starts of the 2019-20 season and had only one prior top-10 finish that year, a tied 8th at the RBC Heritage. The win secured him an exempt status on the PGA Tour for two years along with spots in the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational and the PGA Championship.

Notable Events and Milestones

Thompson’s career has been defined by a few signature moments, including his first-round 66 and runner-up finish at the 2012 U.S. Open, his maiden PGA Tour win at the 2013 Honda Classic, and his emotional return to the winner’s circle at the 2020 3M Open. His highest Official World Golf Ranking was 43rd, reached on March 10, 2013.

Michael Thompson Career Wins

Michael Hayes Thompson has recorded four professional wins across multiple tours, including two on the PGA Tour, one on the Korn Ferry Tour, and one on the Hooters Tour. His PGA Tour victories are the 2013 Honda Classic and the 2020 3M Open, while his Korn Ferry Tour win came at the 2016 Albertsons Boise Open. He also won a tournament on the Hooters Tour during the 2010 season.

PGA Tour Highlights

Thompson’s first PGA Tour win came at the 2013 Honda Classic, a breakthrough performance that pushed him into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking. His most recent victory came at the 2020 3M Open, which he won at TPC Twin Cities. That win ended a long winless stretch and reaffirmed his ability to close out tournaments at the highest level.

Other Wins and Performances

Beyond the PGA Tour, Thompson has been highly successful on developmental circuits. He was named the 2010 Hooters Tour Player of the Year and won the 2016 Albertsons Boise Open on the Korn Ferry Tour, which helped him return to the PGA Tour. He also reached a high point in amateur golf by spending one week as the number one-ranked player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking in 2008.

Michael Thompson Family

Family Background and Personal Life

Michael Hayes Thompson met his wife, Rachel Thompson, while the two were attending Tulane University together. Rachel Thompson is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and an Emory University graduate, and she caddied for Michael during his only win on the regular Hooters Tour. The couple has since made their home in Birmingham, Alabama, where Michael is based while competing on the PGA Tour.

Marriage and Children

Thompson and his wife Rachel have been married and together have adopted two children. Their daughter was adopted in 2016, and their son was adopted in 2020. Family life in Birmingham has been a steady presence throughout his professional career, providing a foundation as he has moved between tours and back to the PGA Tour.

2025 Season Performance

Michael Hayes Thompson continues to compete on the PGA Tour in 2025, drawing on the experience of more than fifteen professional seasons. With his exempt status from the 2020 3M Open having expired, he has worked to maintain his playing privileges through consistent finishes and selective scheduling. His veteran presence on tour makes him a steady competitor in a wide range of events.

Thompson’s best results in major championships remain his tied second at the 2012 U.S. Open and his tied 25th at the 2013 Masters Tournament. As the 2025 season unfolds, he continues to chase another PGA Tour victory that would add to his tally of two career wins. His track record of bouncing back from difficult stretches, similar to his run to the 2020 3M Open title, suggests he remains a player capable of producing another big result.