Former Gamecocks golfer will return to PGA Tour

After contemplating walking away from golf in 2015, former South Carolina All-American Kyle Thompson is PGA Tour bound for the 2017-18 season. Thompson secured his tour card after clinching a spot in the top-25 of the Web.com Tour Money List with a tie for second at the Lincoln Land Charity Championship on Sunday.

“It’s insane to think that I would get back to the PGA TOUR,” Thompson said in a PGA release. ““It’s a pretty special day and I’m excited about the future.”

Thompson nearly notched his second win of the season, but fell just shy in a four-man playoff.

Thompson grabbed the 54-hole lead on Saturday at 17-under after posting consecutive bogey free 64s (-7) in rounds two and three that featured 14 combined birdies. Thompson started the tournament 11th on the money list and his runner-up finish today catapulted him into fifth.

In the four seasons in which Thompson has recorded a victory on the Web.com Tour, he has now emerged with one of the 25 PGA Tour cards up for grabs three times. He’s played in 55 career PGA events, most recently the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills in which he missed the cut by just one stroke.

Thompson had a stellar career as a Gamecock, earning All-America honors three times from 1999-2001. He was the individual medalist at two NCAA Regionals (1999, 2001) and is tied for the lowest 18-hole score in school history (63) and the most top-five finishes (14).

This story was originally published June 27, 2017 at 4:15 PM with the headline "Former Gamecocks golfer will return to PGA Tour."