During the coronavirus hiatus from play on the PGA tour, you’ll see plenty of articles and videos about tour players killing time by having left handed driving contests with their buddies (Dustin Johnson hit one over 300 yards), improving on their rock guitar performances (Eric De Rooyen) and pounding balls into their basement simulators.
But no one’s break has been as eventful as Michael Thompson’s. He called into “The Golf Arizona Show” last Saturday with news of a different nature. He and his wife flew to Wichita Kansas last week to meet his new daughter. They adopted a one week old and are now spending the days getting to enjoy her. He said he and his wife are “relearning how to take care of a newborn. While the coronavirus break has been tough for some, it’s been a blessing for us.”
Like most PGA players, his season was interrupted three weeks ago after round 1 of the Players Championship. Thompson, who has struggled this season, was off to a great start…finishing round 1 at -4. He said he was disappointed when the tournament was cancelled but understood that it probably had to be done. He added that his play was improving going into the Players and hopes to keep his feel once the season resumes.
Thompson, a Rincon/University High School graduate, returns to Tucson each year to host the Michael Thompson Invitational. It’s a fundraiser for Arizona Junior Golf and is played in the fall at Oro Valley Country Club. We’ll have details at this site once we get closer to the event. Thompson is in his 10th year on the PGA tour and has amassed over $8,000,000 in prize money.
Upcoming guests on this weeks “Golf Arizona Show” on April 5th, include NBC golf lead commentator Dan Hicks and Arizona Daily Star sports columnist Greg Hansen. Hicks, a Sabino High School grad has achieved fame covering the PGA tour, the Olympics and Notre Dame football. When he is not attending to his wife (NBC sports anchor Hannah Storm) and three girls, Hicks says he tries to spend most of his time on the golf course trying to improve on his 7 handicap. Hansen has been at the Star for over 30 years and is most well-known for his Sunday Notebook. The show runs Saturdays’s on ESPN/Tucson at 8 am on 1490 am/104.9 fm.
By Mike Boyd 3-30-20
