Make it an even dozen golfers who Chris Haack coached at Georgia that have won on the PGA Tour.
Davis Thompson on Sunday became No. 12 when he won the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois, for his first title in his 63rd career start.
The former two-time All-American was the SEC Golfer of the Year in 2021.
Thompson, 25, was runner-up a week earlier at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and finished ninth this summer at the U.S. Open.
“This week my goal was to just kick the door down and get a win honestly,” Thompson told reporters. “Then I was just able to play really well and thankfully I’m in a good spot for the rest of the year.”
Thompson won by four strokes with a 28-under 256. He gets $1.44 million for the win and qualified for the British Open and the 2025 Masters.
“I’m so proud of Davis,” Haack said. “Not only did he accomplish his first PGA Tour win but he broke the tournament scoring record and played incredible golf. I’m looking forward to watching his young career continue to unfold.”
Thompson became the second Bulldog in as many years to win the JDC following Sepp Straka last year.
Thompson stayed in the same house during the tournament as several players in the field including former Georgia golfer Greyson Sigg. Straka stayed in the house last year when he won, but didn’t this year because his family was in town but went over to play cards.
“I stayed in Sepp’s room this year,” Thompson said. “I don’t know. Me and him may be fighting for that room next year.”
Thompson became the 17th former Georgia golfer to win on the PGA Tour. Brian Harman also won the John Deere Classic in 2014.
“It’s a pretty cool fraternity out here,” Thompson said. “We’ve got, gosh, I don’t know, around ten guys out here. It’s just cool to share that with other guys. We’re pulling for each other, but at the end of the day we’re competing against each other, and it’s always fun to talk Georgia football with those guys.”
Thompson was born in Atlanta, went to high school in Auburn, Alabama, and lives in St. Simons. His father Todd was a Georgia golf captain in 1987 and 1988.
“I grew up a Georgia fan, so I always loved coming to football games as a kid,” Thompson told the Banner-Herald in 2021. “I’ve just always had that kind of innate desire to play well for Georgia and represent the school the best way possible.”
Here are the 12 golfers who Chris Haack coached at Georgia that went on to win on the PGA Tour:
Bubba Watson
Harris English
Chris Kirk
Kevin Kisner
Brian Harman
Russell Henley
Hudson Swafford
Brendon Todd
Keith Mitchell
Sepp Straka
Ryuji Imada
Davis Thompson