Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson

37-Year-Old Golfer
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2022–23 Fantasy Outlook
Thompson has ranked between 126th-131st in strokes-gained total the last three seasons, so it's pretty easy to know what to expect out of him. Known for his driving accuracy and short game prowess, he's capable of getting hot one week a year on courses that fit his game like he showed when winning the 3M Open in 2020. Predicting when that will happen is much easier said than done, however. Read Past Outlooks
T24 at Detroit Golf Club
August 2, 2022
Thompson closed with a two-under 70 on Sunday at the Rocket Mortgage Classic to finish 12-under and tied for 24th.
ANALYSIS
Thompson recorded his first eagle of the tournament during Sunday's final round on the par-5 14th hole, sticking his approach from 220 yards to just 13 feet after pounding a 335-yard drive. He ultimately tallied 19 total par-breakers in 72 holes at Detroit Golf Club, where he ranked 23rd in SG: Approach and 27th in SG: Tee-to-Green. Thompson is now No. 100 in the FedExCup Playoffs and Eligibility Points List ahead of the Wyndham Championship where he's 5-of-7 in cuts made, with a T11 here in 2018.
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Michael Thompson See More
Yahoo DFS Golf: The Honda Classic Picks and Strategy
33 days ago
Adam Svensson fares well in several key stats this week, and that helps him land a spot among Bryce Danielson's value plays for the upcoming contests on Yahoo.
FanDuel PGA: The Honda Classic Picks and Strategy
34 days ago
Min Woo Lee does not play stateside often, but he will this week, and a hot streak overseas helps him land a spot among Ryan Andrade's golfers to go after in the latest contests on FanDuel.
DraftKings PGA: The Honda Classic Picks and Strategy
34 days ago
Len Hochberg breaks down this week's DraftKings board and explains why it would be a smart move to roll with Aaron Wise.
DraftKings PGA: Farmers Insurance Open Picks and Strategy
63 days ago
Take time to smell the roses -- or at least train your eye on Justin Rose, whom according to Len Hochberg will help you taste success in this week's contests on DraftKings.
RotoWire Staff/Expert League Results
68 days ago
Rory McIlroy was the most expensive player in the annual RotoWire staff golf league over Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler in a format that gives a guide for season-long leagues.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
Thompson is another player who won't feel the effects from missing out on playoffs, having status this season thanks to winning last year's 3M Open. His ball-striking leaves much to be desired, having lost strokes off-the-tee and on approach, making it hard for him to compete on longer courses while putting a lot of pressure on his short-game. From a fantasy perspective, you could do worse if you need someone that will have full status but his upside is limited.
Thompson broke through with an emotional win at the 3M Open for his second win on Tour and his first since 2013. He led the field in putting that week which is the strength of his game, but lost over .25 strokes to the field from tee-to-green for the season. He may be overrated a bit as a result, although he will be qualified to play in more prestigious events in 2020-21 that he's missed out on over recent years.
Thompson was fairly productive in his first four years on the PGA Tour, securing his card at the end of each of those four seasons. His next four seasons weren't nearly as productive as he failed to crack the top-125 during any of those seasons. This past season was by far his best in the past five years, but he probably set the bar too high for salary cap purposes. Thompson has rarely flashed much upside over the past decade and as such, high price is too high for this season.
In the 2016-17 season, Thompson paced the PGA Tour in strokes gained: putting, and in 2017-18 he was 14th. But little else can be said for the journeyman who failed to earn a single top-10 in 2017-18. He's earned between $500,000 and $600,000 each of the last four seasons, so expect more of the same from the Alabama alum.
Thompson has fallen off the map since his defining win at the Honda Classic in 2013, earning just one top-10 finish in each of the last four seasons. Last year he hit a new low by missing the cut in more than half of his 21 starts, but somehow he still led the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Putting. While you try to process that, keep Thompson on the backburner, as he will continue to provide declining value for fantasy squads.
Thompson has steadily regressed since notching his lone PGA Tour win in 2013, barely making half his cuts the past two seasons. He averaged 25 starts those two seasons, so it's not like he didn't have opportunities to get inside the top-125. There's scant evidence that will change this season.
Four years on the PGA Tour for Thompson and four times inside the top-125. His success has varied though from "just good enough" to "pretty darn good". Last year Thompson clocked-in at "just good enough". His rookie season was much the same as he played well enough to secure his card, but did little to garner much attention. The two years in-between however, Thompson made a bit of noise earning $1.4 and $1.7 million respectively. It is because of those two years in the middle that Thompson is an intriguing pick in salary cap leagues this year. The risk is low because of his price, yet the upside appears to be somewhat limited. In draft leagues he should go around the 10th round.
Thompson is a tough guy to figure out. Is he the guy who won the Honda Classic in 2013 and contended at the 2012 U.S. Open, or is he the guy who's done little outside those two events? Many young players show a pattern like this early in their careers and unfortunately, these players either find the consistency or they don't, there's no way to tell at this stage. With that said, without the consistency, Thompson's number is just too high this year.
Thompson made an improbable run at the 2012 U.S. Open where he ended up just outside the winner's circle. That week he earned nearly $700K, almost half his season total. That gives you an idea of how he played outside that one glorious week in June. Obviously, with a track record like that, you don't want any piece of Thompson this season in salary cap formats. The upside to Thompson is that he'll get to play the U.S. Open again this year, and you never know. In draft leagues, he's a ninth-round pick at best.
Nothing flashy about Thompson's rookie year on the PGA Tour - 15 cuts made in 25 events, six Top-25s and two Top-5s. His best finish came at the McGladrey Classic in October when he finished third. There's not a lot to go on with Thompson as his resume is pretty thin, both on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.
Thompson spent his entire 2010 season on the Hooters Tour, which is a notch below the Nationwide Tour. He dominated there, however, and winning has a way of carrying over. Sure, it's a huge step up for Thompson this year, but he's still playing the same game, so expect some success this season.
More Fantasy News
Leads in SG: Putting in Texas
May 16, 2022
Thompson recorded a five-under 67 on Sunday at the AT&T Byron Nelson to finish 17-under and tied for 25th place.
ANALYSIS
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T11 at FIO
January 31, 2022
Thompson carded a three-under 69 on Saturday at the Farmers Insurance Open to finish 12-under and tied for 11th.
ANALYSIS
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Secures T5 at Waialae
January 17, 2022
Thompson finished in a share of fifth place at the Sony Open in Hawaii after firing a seven-under 63 in the final round.
ANALYSIS
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Makes fourth consecutive cut
November 8, 2021
Thompson carded a two-under 69 on Sunday at the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba to finish 13-under and tied for 15th.
ANALYSIS
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Putts well on bermuda in Hawaii
January 11, 2021
Thompson fired a four-under 69 on Sunday at the Sentry Tournament of Champions to finish 15-under and tied for 21st.
ANALYSIS
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