Davis Thompson shoots 63 to take early lead at Rocket Mortgage Classic

Davis Thompson, in his third PGA Tour event as a professional, is leading the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

He's not excited about that fact. Yet.

"Sounds good on Sunday," Thompson said after matching a Detroit Golf Club record with a 9-under 63 to take the early first-round lead. "It's only Thursday. I know I've got a long way to go."

Brandon Hagy, Tom Lewis and Joaquin Niemann were two shots back. Seamus Power and J.J. Spaun shot 66, putting them another stroke behind the surprising leader.

Thompson is in the field as a sponsor exemption after sending an email to tournament officials, asking for a spot. The 22-year-old former University of Georgia star missed the cut last week at the Travelers Championship after tying for 35th in his pro debut at the Palmetto Championship earlier in June.

It is unlikely anyone saw his breakthrough round coming after he was a combined 6-over par in six previous starts — four as an amateur — on the PGA Tour. Thompson did show a flash of promise when he competed in the 2020 U.S. Open as an amateur, opening with a 69 before missing the cut at 7-over 147.

WATCH | Thompson leads after opening round at Rocket Mortgage Classic:

Davis Thompson leads Rocket Mortgage Classic after tying course record

3 years ago

Duration 1:05

Davis Thompson tied a course record with his 9-under 63 on Thursday during the first round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

Thompson took advantage of favorable conditions with rain-softened greens and light wind Thursday morning at Detroit Golf Club, missing only one green and needing just 26 putts in his bogey-free round with nine birdies.

"If the putter gets hot, you can just kind of ride that wave throughout the day," he said.

Thompson resumed his round after play was suspended due to inclement weather for three-plus hours. He tied the course record shared by Nate Lashley, who won the inaugural event in 2019, and J.T. Poston.

Players with afternoon tee times had to endure a long wait to begin playing and wind that was 5 to 10 mph stronger than it was in the morning. Twenty-seven players will finish their first round early Saturday morning before playing the second round.

Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau got off to a shaky start, a day after parting ways with caddie Tim Tucker. He replaced him for this week with Cobra-Puma Golf tour operations manager Ben Schomin, who said he was a caddie in competition for the first time.

DeChambeau, No. 6 in the world ranking, is trying to successfully defend a PGA Tour title for the first time. He had a chance two weeks ago to repeat at the U.S. Open, but went from leading the major with nine holes left to faltering and finishing in a tie for 26th.

And now, the big hitter might not make the cut and that would be a blow for him and the Detroit-based company that pays him as part of an endorsement deal.

DeChambeau missed the fairway to the right at Nos. 2 and 3, leading to bogeys. At the par-3, 184-yard ninth hole, he was short off the tee, on his chip and 10-foot putt to put another bogey on his card that dropped him to even-par 36 at the turn.

DeChambeau had nine pars on the back nine, closing with a 72 to leave him nine shots behind Thompson. He declined to be interviewed Thursday night.

Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., was the top Canadian to finish his round following a 5-under 67. Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., was also 5 under but only made it to hole No. 15 before play was halted.

Canadian competitors

Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., opened with a 1-under 71, while Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., shot an even-par 72. Abbotsford's Adam Hadwin was even par through 16 and David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., was 1 over through 16.

Mickelson said he will not come back due to a report by The Detroit News that was published this week. The newspaper obtained federal court records from 2007, detailing how a Michigan-based bookie was accused of cheating Mickelson out of $500,000.

"It was so much effort for me to be here and to have that type of unnecessary attack," he said. "Not like I care, it happened 20-something years ago, it's just the lack of appreciation."

The 51-year-old Mickelson shot a 69, marking the sixth time he has been under par out of 11 rounds since he became the oldest major winner at the PGA Championship in May.