Davis Thompson plays a shot during the first round of the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open. | Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
Rising PGA Tour star Davis Thompson finds himself on the front page of the leaderboard again at the Scottish Open.
Davis Thompson has brought his superb play from Silvis, Illinois, to North Berwick, Scotland—not an easy feat considering the 3,800-mile distance and six-time zone difference between the two.
Thompson, who won last week’s John Deere Classic at 28-under-par and set a tournament scoring record in the process, opened the Genesis Scottish Open with a 5-under 65—his first competitive round ever in Scotland. He did not have time to celebrate his first career PGA Tour victory but instead focused on making his Links Golf debut.
“I’ve just been trying to prepare for this week, Thompson said Thursday.
“I’ll do the same next week, and when I get home, I’ll definitely reflect and celebrate—but just trying to finish out this four-week stretch strong.”
Thompson tied for second at the Rocket Mortgage Classic before his maiden PGA Tour victory and finished in the top 10 at the U.S. Open two weeks before—his best finish in a major. He has played admirably since his strong result at Pinehurst No. 2, a testament that Thompson is a rising star on the PGA Tour and perhaps someone to watch out for next week at Royal Troon.
Photo by Ross Parker/Getty Images
Davis Thompson lines up a putt during the first round of the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open.
“I feel like this is a nice, gradual course to bring me into links golf, and then next week will be a full-on links course,” Thompson said of the Renaissance Club, the host of this week’s Genesis Scottish Open.
“It’s kind of Americanised a little bit but you still have some links aspects to it.”
American Tom Doak designed the Renaissance Club in 2008, and the club has hosted the Scottish Open since 2019. It certainly has an ‘American’ feel, but that should not detract from its Scottish roots. It’s still a links course through and through—a perfect appetizer for what is to come at The Open.
As such, Thompson has gotten a taste of how to play Links Golf, a completely different flavor most often seen on the PGA Tour.
“If you avoid the pot bunkers and hit a lot of greens, you’re going to get some looks. Try to take advantage of the par 5s,” Thompson said.
“There are a few par 4s where you’ll have wedges in. I feel like you can take advantage of those, and you can shoot a low score.”
Thompson followed that blueprint on Thursday, and if he can continue to do so, perhaps he will emerge victorious again. Or maybe he is setting himself up for a career-altering victory at Royal Troon. Either way, Thompson looks primed like a future star in this game. His focus is impressive, but so is his play.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
