Davis Thompson matches Rory McIlroy's record at 2024 John Deere Classic

Davis Thompson played the front nine of the final round of the 2024 John Deere Classic with a score of 6-under 29. With this, he matched a PGA Tour record held by four-time major winner Rory McIlroy.

The record matched by Davis Thompson is the best front nine achieved by the 54-hole leader of a PGA Tour event. McIlroy had set it in 2022, during the fourth round of the RBC Canadian Open.

That event was played at St. George's Golf & Country Club in Toronto, Canada (par 70). Rory McIlroy played the front nine bogey-free with five birdies for a score of 29. Afterward, the Northern Irishman had another five birdies and two bogeys to clinch his victory (19 under 261).

Davis Thompson also played bogey-free on the front nine of the fourth round of the John Deere Classic. He had six birdies and scored 3 on seven of the nine holes (scored 4 on the 2nd and 8th).

Thompson completed the final round with two birdies and one bogey for a score of 28-under 256 after 72 holes, four strokes ahead of three players tied for second place (Michael Thorbjornsen, CT Pan, and amateur Luke Clanton).

Davis Thompson set another record for the day, the lowest score to win the event. He surpassed Michael Kim's 27-under, set in 2018.

Davis Thompson's career at a glance

Davis Thompson began his golf career as a junior and had a standout stint at that level. Playing for Lee-Scott Academy, he won six Alabama state junior titles. After this, he earned a scholarship to play at the University of Georgia.

His time in U.S. collegiate golf spanned four years (2017-2021). Playing for the University of Georgia, he won NCAA Regionals twice (2019 and 2021) and was named the Southwestern Conference Player of the Year in 2021. He also became the number one ranked player in the world amateur rankings.

After graduating from college, he began his professional career. Thompson joined the Korn Ferry Tour for the 2022 season, and it didn't take long for him to excel. In his 14th career start, he earned his first pro win at the REX Hospital Open.

This win, along with his other three Top 10s, allowed him to finish 16th on the Korn Ferry Tour point list, which gave him his PGA Tour card for the 2022-2023 season.

Thompson made his debut as a member of the PGA Tour at the 2022 Fortinet Championship, although he had played 13 tournaments at that level by then. His first result as a tour member was also his first Top 10 (T9).

Between September 2022 and July 2024, Thompson has played 50 PGA Tour events. His results include 35 cuts passed with six Top 10s, including one victory and three second-place finishes.