Thompson's future looking awfully bright

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Nicholas Thompson tied for second at last week's Ginn sur Mer Classic after a final-round 69.

Last week was an enjoyable one for Nicholas Thompson.

To begin with, he enjoyed spending time with a couple of family members at the Ginn sur Mer Classic in Palm Coast, Fla. When tournament officials ran short of volunteers to work as standard bearers, Thompson drafted his kid brother Curtis for Saturday's round and his 13-year-old sister Alexis, who won the U.S. Girls Junior earlier this year, for Sunday's round.

Since Thompson had caddied for each, he didn't mind asking them to put on a bib and spend a day changing numbers.

On Saturday, Thompson enjoyed a fun afternoon when the Georgia Tech football team beat Florida State, a victory that put the Yellow Jackets back in the top 25.

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"Last week (when Tech was upset by Virginia) I tried to keep my head down and stay away from those Virginia guys," Thompson said. "This week it was great. I didn't hear much from those FSU guys."

The enjoyment was doubled when Thompson learned that Georgia -- hardly an ally of Georgia Tech -- had been thrashed by Florida.

"That was sweet," Thompson said.

Despite having his family around and his alma mater hanging one in the victory column, the best part of the week for Thompson was his on-course performance. Thompson shot a final-round 69 to finish in a tie for second.

Upset? Hardly.

Thompson was very upbeat as he prepared for this week's Children's Miracle Network Classic presented by Wal-Mart. He saw the performance as another step toward winning his first PGA TOUR event.

"I want to keep putting myself in the position to win," Thompson said. "If I do that, everything will fall into place one week. That's what I keep trying to do."

The tie for second was the best in Thompson's two seasons on the TOUR. But it was his fourth top-five showing and sixth time in the top 10 this year. He seems to be following the pattern espoused by World Golf Hall of Famer Nick Price, who said a player must learn to lose before he can learn to win.

"That's so true," Thompson said. "All year long I've felt pretty comfortable due to last year (on the Nationwide Tour) and all the chances I had to win there."

Thompson came out of Georgia Tech with an All-American resume and U.S. Walker Cup team experience. He sailed through the first three stages of q-school and immediately earned his card in 2006. But he never gained any traction, lost his card and had to spend 2007 on the Nationwide Tour.

Instead of viewing the trip as a demotion, Thompson dug in. He used the time to learn and get better. Thompson won, regained his confidence and easily qualified for a second trip to the TOUR by finishing sixth on the Nationwide Tour money list..

His second tour of duty has been much more successful. He's more comfortable and it shows. He tied for fourth at both the Zurich Classic in New Orleans and the EDS Byron Nelson Championship and finished fifth at the RBC Canadian Open.

Even though Thompson didn't win the Ginn sur Mer, he was more than prepared.

"Last week I drove it so good and hit it so good," Thompson said. "It was my poor putting that was the difference." Thompson missed 10 putts within 10 feet and that proved costly.

With one week left in the season, Thompson, 41st on the money list, is tantalizingly close to finishing in the top 30, which would earn him a spot in the Masters and the U.S. Open.

Even if that doesn't happen, Thompson can enjoy the fruits of his labor ($1.89 million in earnings) and have a contented holiday season. And with his 26th birthday coming on Christmas Day, the future looks awfully bright.

Stan Awtrey is a freelance columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily reflect the views of the PGA TOUR.