Michael Thompson finished off his second PGA Tour victory, and first in seven years, with a flourish.
The 35-year-old Thompson, whose only other title came in the 2013 Honda Classic, sank a 15-foot birdie putt to cap a 4-under-par 67 and win the 3M Open by two strokes over Adam Long at TPC Twin Cites in Blaine, Minn.
“It’s been such a long time,” said an emotional Thompson after making two birdies on the last three holes. “I’m just sad my family isn’t here to share it with me. I can’t wait to get home to celebrate with them.
“I don’t know what to say, it’s so exciting. I played such good golf today. I stayed within myself and believed in myself. I couldn’t ask for anything more. It means the world because you have to prove yourself every year to keep your job and now I have security for two years.
“ … I had some nerves, but just told myself, ‘You’ve got this. Just go get it.’”
Thompson, who has two adopted children with his wife Rachel including a baby girl who joined them a few months ago, was at or near the lead from the start of the tournament and finished with a score of 19-under 265.
Long, who like Thompson qualified for the U.S. Open and PGA Championship, made four birdies on each nine in a 64 to take solo second after getting into position with a 63 in the third round.
“I started making putts on Saturday and just kept going,” said Long, whose only PGA Tour victory came in the 2019 Desert Classic. “I just kept the pedal down and tried to make as many birdies as I could.
“I hit so many good irons and wedges that I kept giving myself birdie chances from between five and 20 feet. These are the best players in the world, so I just kept my head down until midway through the back nine before I looked (at the leaderboard) to see where I was.”
Max Homa of Valencia and Cal shot 67 to finish three shots back in a big tie for third with Tony Finau (67), 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (68) of South Africa, Charles Howell III (65), Alex Noren (66) of Sweden, Emiliano Grillo (65) of Argentina, Robby Shelton (64), Cameron Tringale (66) of Laguna Nigel and Richy Wereksni (70).
Werenski, seeking his first PGA Tour victory, held the outright first-round lead at 63 and was tied at the top with Thompson after each of the middle rounds before fading a bit in the final round.
Defending champion Matthew Wolff of Agoura Hills closed with a 67 to tie for 12th.
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