Kyle Thompson

Exempt status

• Korn Ferry Tour: Past Champion 3-4 Years (thru 2020)

JOINED TOUR

• Korn Ferry Tour: 2003
• PGA TOUR: 2008

Korn Ferry Tour Victories (5)

• 2007 The Rex Hospital Open, Oregon Classic Pres'd by Kendall Automotive Group
• 2011 The Rex Hospital Open
• 2015 Rex Hospital Open
• 2017 The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay

PLAYOFF RECORD

KORN FERRY TOUR (2-2)

• 2004 Lost to Chris Tidland, Mathew Goggin, Kevin Stadler, Scholarship America Showdown
• 2007 Defeated Matt Jones, Jon Turcott, Oregon Classic Pres'd by Kendall Automotive Group
• 2015 Defeated Miguel Angel Carballo, Patton Kizzire, Rex Hospital Open
• 2017 Lost to Eric Axley, William Kropp, Adam Schenk, Lincoln Land Charity Championship

Personal

• Is a huge University of South Carolina Gamecocks fan.
• Named his third child, Raleigh, after his Korn Ferry Tour win at the Rex Hospital Open in 2015. Credited that win with saving his playing career. At that time, he only had conditional Korn Ferry Tour status and had been preparing his resume to start applying for jobs.
• Helps coach his son Sammy's baseball team whenever he is home.
• Sister, Kory, is the head women's golf coach at Ole Miss.
• Best friends with fellow professional, Jin Park.
• Supports charities helping to end childhood slavery.

Special Interests

• All sports, reading, spending time with friends

Career Highlights

2017 Season

Finished the Korn Ferry Tour season with 22 starts, one win, two runner-ups and 13 cuts made. Was 24th in the final priority-ranking order. Secured his PGA TOUR card for the 2017-18 season with a seventh-place finish on the 2017 Korn Ferry Tour Regular Season money list.

• Digital Ally Open: Posted 22-under 262 to finish T2 at the Digital Ally Open. Recorded a final-round 65 on Sunday to move from T8 to a share of second place, finishing three shots back of winner Marty Dou.
• Lincoln Land Charity Championship: Held the 54-hole lead at the Lincoln Land Charity Championship but fell into a tie for first at the end of regulation with a final-round 74. Lost on the second playoff hole but secured his PGA TOUR card with the T2.
• United Leasing & Finance Championship: Recorded his second top-10 of the season with a solo fifth-place finish at the United Leasing & Finance Championship despite a final-round 76. Took sole possession of the 36-hole lead with an even-par 72 for a one-shot lead at Victoria National. Grabbed a share of the 18-hole lead at 4-under 68 with Abraham Ancer.
• The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay: Secured his fifth Korn Ferry Tour title with a two-shot victory at the season-opening Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay, despite recording seven double bogeys throughout the week. Opened with a 4-over 76 in extremely windy conditions - a round that he called one of the top three he'd ever played. Entered the weekend five shots off the lead after a second-round 70. Recorded his second consecutive 70 to get to even-par and grab the 54-hole lead by one shot over Abraham Ancer and Nicholas Thompson. Built his lead up to four shots with four birdies on the front nine on his way to an opening 4-under 32. Made his first blemish of the day at the par-4 16th with a double bogey to drop his lead to just two shots with two play. Parred the last two holes to secure the win by two shots over Nicholas Thompson and Andrew Yun. Winning total of 2-under 286 was the highest score by a winner since Omar Uresti's 2007 win at the Livermore Valley Wine Country Championship.

2016 Season

Played in 21 events on the Korn Ferry Tour, made 12 cuts and posted six top-25s. Finished No. 42 on the Regular Season money list.

• Panama Claro Championship: Earned a runner-up in his Tour season debut at the Panama Claro Championship thanks to a strong weekend performance. Entered the weekend 10 shots back of Curtis Thompson and carded 5-under 65 in the third round to move within three of the lead. Went out 33 to move within two strokes of the lead. Never threatened Ryan Armour's lead but did get out of a tie for second with a birdie on the 18th hole. The solo-second showing was his best on Tour since his win at the Rex Hospital Open in 2015.

2015 Season

Finished the Korn Ferry Tour season with 17 starts, one win, two top-10s, three top-25s and 11 cuts made. Was 37th on the final combined money list.

• Hotel Fitness Championship: In the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, opened with a T64 at the Hotel Fitness Championship and missed the next three cuts.
• Stonebrae Classic: Made plenty of cuts (10 of 12) through the end of the Regular Season, but managed just one more top-10, a T10 at the Stonebrae Classic in July. Slid outside the top 25 to No. 30 by the end of Regular Season.
• Rex Hospital Open: Captured his fourth Tour win via a playoff at the Rex Hospital Open, which was only his second start of the season. With limited status, came into the Raleigh event at a career crossroad and seriously considering a future outside of the touring professional golf life. Grabbed the second-round lead after a 63-68 start. Added a third-round 69. Was T2, two shots off the pace entering the final round at TPC Wakefield Plantation. Made steady progress up the leaderboard and fired a 4-under 67, which put him at 17 under and tied with clubhouse leaders Patton Kizzire and Miguel Angel Carballo. Drained a 4-foot birdie putt on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff to get the win. Became the first player in Tour history to win the same event three times (also 2007 and 2011). Victory was worth $112,500 and moved him to No. 15 on the money list through 10 of the 21 Regular Season events.
• Farmers Insurance Open: Made one PGA TOUR start, missing the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open after successfully Monday qualifying.

2014 Season

Played in 14 Korn Ferry Tour events, recording one top-10 and three top-25s. Made seven cuts. Finished the season 97th on the money list. Two of his top-25s followed back-to-back at the Midwest Classic (T24) and the Stonebrae Classic (T25).

• Nova Scotia Open: Season highlight was a T4 at the Nova Scotia Open in early July when he carded 68-72-68-69.

2013 Season

Limited to nine starts on the Korn Ferry Tour and advanced to weekend play only once.

2012 Season

A PGA TOUR member for the second time, did not record a top-25 finish during the season and finished No. 224 in the FedExCup standings.

2011 Season

Finished No. 15 on the Korn Ferry Tour money list to earn a second trip to the PGA TOUR and first since his rookie season in 2008.

• Mexico Open Presented by Banamex: Picked up his fourth top-10 finish of the year the following week, at the Mexico Open. Four steady, under-par rounds led to a T4. 2010: Made the cut in half of his 24 starts and had six top-25 finishes to finish the year No. 49 on the money list.
• Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open: Followed his win in Raleigh with a runner-up effort the next week at the Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open, where he hovered near the lead all week. Missed an eagle putt on the 72nd hole and then tapped in for birdie, giving him temporary share of the lead at 17-under with playing partner Mathew Goggin, who rolled in a 6-foot birdie putt to earn a one-stroke victory. Second-place effort pushed him to No. 2 on the money list through 10 events and put him in prime position to return to the PGA TOUR in 2012.
• The Rex Hospital Open: Earned his third career title in June, a one-stroke victory at The Rex Hospital Open, where he birdied the 72nd hole to finish at 14-under par. Late in the final round, with nine players left on the course, there was a six-way tie for the lead at minus-13. Rolled in a 7-footer to become the tournament's first two-time winner. He collected a check for $99,000 and added the trophy to the one he won in 2007 when he earned his first career title. Moved to No. 6 on the money list with his victory.
• Panama CLARO Championship: Opened the year with a T10 at the Panama Claro Championship.

2010 Season

Made the cut in half of his 24 starts and had six top-25 finishes to finish the year No. 49 on the money list.

• Price Cutter Charity Championship Presented by Dr Pepper: Finished T5 five starts later at the Price Cutter Charity Championship. Fired 63 in the first round to share the lead with Brandt Jobe. Backed it up with a second-round 67 to take sole possession of the 36-hole lead, the fifth time he held the second-round lead. Shot 69-70 on the weekend to fall back but posted his third top-10 of the year. It was the third consecutive week he had fired a 63, also doing so at the Cox Classic and the Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open.
• Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic Presented by Samsung: Posted his second top-10 two starts later at the Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic. Posted four rounds in the 60s to finish T10.
• Fort Smith Classic: Collected his first top-10 of the year with a runner-up at the Fort Smith Classic, where he gained entry as a Monday qualifier. Fired a final-round 63 Sunday to shoot up the leaderboard and establish the clubhouse lead at 15-under par. Had to settle for second place when Chris Kirk posted a 16-under-par score. The runner-up finish was his best since the 2008 season.

2009 Season

Finished outside the top 80 (No. 148) on the Korn Ferry Tour for the first time in his career, making just seven cuts in 23 starts. Season-best finish was T20 at the Utah Championship. Daughter was born the week of the BMW Charity Pro-Am in Greenville, S.C., where he lives.

2008 Season

Played his rookie season on the PGA TOUR, making the cut in nine of 26 starts. Prior to 2008 season, only previous made cut in three previous career starts came at the 2007 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (T25).

• Utah Championship Presented by Zions Bank: Played the Utah Championship after not making it into the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. Was in contention all week before shooting a final-round 71 for a T2 finish.
• Chitimacha Louisiana Open Pres'd by Dynamic Industries: Taking a break from the TOUR, posted the fifth runner-up finish of his career, finishing one stroke behind champion Gavin Coles at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open.
• Puerto Rico Open presented by Banco Popular: Lone top-25 finish was a T15 at the Puerto Rico Open.

2007 Season

Made the cut in 12 of 28 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour, with seven top-25 finishes. Recorded two wins. Finished the season No. 14 on the money list, with $248,698.

• Oregon Classic Pres'd by Kendall Automotive Group: Won for the second time at the Oregon Classic, prevailing in a playoff over Matthew Jones and Jon Turcott. Set up the playoff with an eagle on the final hole and then birdied the second playoff hole for the victory. Collected $85,500 to move to No. 7 on the money list.
• The Rex Hospital Open: Broke through for his first Tour win at The Rex Hospital Open. Opening rounds of 64-65 gave him a three-stroke lead at the halfway mark. Increased that lead to four after 54 holes and held on for a two-stroke win over Bob Burns.

2006 Season

Made the cut in 16 of 26 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour, with three top-10 finishes. Completed the season No. 53 on the money list, with $117,046.

2005 Season

Finished the season No. 74 on the money list, with $67,135. Made the cut in 16 of 25 tournaments, with two top-10 finishes.

2004 Season

Made the cut in 17 of 28 events, including 10 top-25 finishes. Ranked No. 22 on the final money list, with $193,835. Had two runner-up showings, including a playoff loss to Kevin Stadler at the Scholarship America Showdown and a T2 at the Virginia Beach Open. His 8-under 62 in the second round of the Scholarship America Showdown was a new course record.

2003 Season

Made the cut in 15 of 24 starts, his rookie season on the Korn Ferry Tour, and had seven top-25 finishes. Ended the year No. 25 on the final money list, with $174,008. Posted top-10s in three of his first five events. Finished T9 at the Clearwater Classic and T8 at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open. Runner-up to Tripp Isenhour at the BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs. Collected $64,000 for the runner-up finish to move up to No. 6 on the money list at the time. His fourth top-10 of the season was posted at the Chattanooga Classic, where he finished second after sharing the 54-hole lead with Ryan Palmer. Entered the season-ending Tour Championship No. 20 on the money list, but a T51 finish dropped him to No. 25.

2002 Season

Made it to final stage of PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament after finishing T11 and T8 during first- and second-stage sites. Played in three NGA Hooters Tour events, with top-six finishes in all three.

Amateur Highlights

• Three-time All-American at South Carolina, including second-team honors in 1999 and 2001. Honorable mention in 2000. First-team All-SEC for four years. Two-time academic All-America. Won a school-record five collegiate tournaments, eclipsing Carl Paulson'