THE MODERATOR: All right, we'd like to welcome the winner the 2024 John Deere Classic, Davis Thompson. Davis, I don't know where to begin with everything that you accomplished this week. Absolutely remarkable. Congratulations on your first career PGA TOUR win.
Earlier we had a number of players who were finishing up, and as opposed to them talking about their week, their round, they were asked about, do you know Davis Thompson. What can you tell us about him.
So a lot of people felt like this was coming close for you you. Sure enough, you brought to home. With that said, just a few opening comments about getting the job done.
DAVIS THOMPSON: Yeah, I played great all week. Kind of had a few hiccups on Friday, but worked hard after the round and was able to kick it into gear on the weekend.
Just feels great. A lot of hard work went into this, and thankfully I was able to get the job done this weekend. Yeah, just felt great. My caddie kept me grounded all weekend. He did a great job. I'm just so thankful to be the champion.
Q. With the win, you move up to 22 in the FedExCup standings; you're on your way to the Open Championship. All kinds of numbers. 24th first-time winner of the John Deere Classic; 9th first-time winner on the PGA TOUR this season.
Is this the kind of thing that you imagined? I think somebody earlier said you don't typically show a lot of emotion, but you have a lot of emotion. Is this going to take a while to get your arms around?
DAVIS THOMPSON: Yeah, I think so. The goal I guess in May was to make the playoffs, and then next thing I know I finished second at Myrtle Beach and then ninth at the U.S. Open and second last week.
This week my goal was to just kick the door down and get a win honestly. Then I was just able to play really well and thankfully I'm in a good spot for the rest of the year.
Q. Talked about kicking the door down. Birdieing five of the first six holes made quite a statement today in the final round, didn't it?
DAVIS THOMPSON: Yeah, definitely. I just wanted to stay aggressive. I wanted to -- I knew there would be low scores out there today because the wind kind of died down and the conditions were a little soft.
So I knew I was going to have to go play well. Thankfully I made a great putt on 1 and had a great up and down on 2 and kept the ball rolling.
Q. The Georgia Bulldogs' streak is intact here. Two in a row and three in the last ten years with Brian Harman starting things off and Sepp last year. What can you say about that program? Are they going to start questioning the recruiting over there?
DAVIS THOMPSON: Yeah, Coach Haak and Coach Doug and Mookie now, it's a pretty cool fraternity out here. 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.
Q. Davis, more than three Georgia Bulldogs, three for three for the house. Did you feel mojo there? Is that just a bunch of good golfers hanging out together?
DAVIS THOMPSON: Maybe a little bit of both. It's kind of crazy how JT two years ago and Sepp had that incredible final round last year. Sepp didn't stay there this year, but I stayed in Sepp's room this year. I don't know. Me and him may be fighting for that room next year.
Yeah, it was just pretty laid back, guys hanging out, watching sports, playing cards. It was really fun week.
Q. Did that camaraderie, that group, staying with those fellow professionals, kind of help you as you slept on the lead? Was it a little different than the last time you had the lead?
DAVIS THOMPSON: Yeah, I mean, I think staying in a hotel room by myself I probably would've let my mind wander a lot. My mind did wander, but hanging out with those guys last night and doing all our laundry and watching sports kind of kept my mind off it.
Q. Wait, you had to do their laundry?
DAVIS THOMPSON: I did my own laundry.
Q. Okay. Brendan Todd called you a perennial Ryder Cuper, top-10 player in the world for a number of years going forward. People talk about your game in that way. What were your expectations coming out on TOUR? How do you see yourself and what are your expectations going forward? How great can you be?
DAVIS THOMPSON: Coming out on TOUR, I mean, of course like every young guy, my expectation was to win every week and that's just not feasible.
Throughout my life it's taken me time to get adjusted to anything in life. Took me a while to get adjusted to college. Even back to junior golf when I started playing the back tees.
It just kind of takes me a while to get adjusted, and then once i get comfortable I kind of get in a groove and start to play well.
I feel like the past couple months I've got more and more comfortable and was able to break through this week.
Q. Davis, talk about the emotions there on 18. You've got your first PGA TOUR win. Sort of looked like it hit you all at once. That was quite an embrace on 18.
DAVIS THOMPSON: Yeah, seeing my wife, it was awesome. It's just -- we've been through a lot this past year, and just to see her, it was really cool.
Q. I'm sure there is a long list of people you would like to share this great moment with. Maybe reflections on some of the people that were with you from the getgo.
DAVIS THOMPSON: Yeah, let's see, golf-wise, swing coach, Eric Eshelman. We been working together since I was 12 years old. He's always kept it really simple for me and thankfully now we're a winner on TOUR.
Gosh, Peter Parsons helping me with my short game.
Obviously my dad. Gosh, he's my best friend. He's my therapist. He's my father. He's my coach. He means everything to me.
That goes for my mom and sister as well. They've always been great support. The list is very long.
I mean, Randy Myers, David Richardson, Brian Smith helping me with physical and physio side.
Dr. Morris Pickens with Sports Psychology, and Jeremy Elliott for believing in me and wanting to represent me.
If I missed anybody I'm sorry. That's kind of my team. Man, it takes a lot, yeah.
Q. What are your goals now? Obviously you haven't had time to process. Ryder Cup and Presidents Cups and major championships, do you see yourself capable of doing those things? How do you -- what are your goals going forward?
DAVIS THOMPSON: Yeah, I mean, obviously those are the goals, to get on those teams and to be contending in majors every year.
But now that I've got my first win, I feel like the work is only beginning. The goal is to play this game for 20 plus years and have a great career.
Yeah, as far as goals, honestly, just not really thinking about that right now. Just hopefully trying to get some sleep on this charter flight.
Q. Davis, what does it mean to you as a Georgia native, Atlanta boy, to not have to ask anyone for a ticket to the Masters in 2024?
DAVIS THOMPSON: Yeah, feels pretty good. Gosh, watching that tournament growing up and being able to play in it next year, it's a Bucket List type thing.
Hopefully I can go get some good practice rounds and prepare the best I can for it. But I've only been a handful of times, so it will be cool to actually play in it.
Q. I don't want to bring you back to the emotion too much, but I've seen you go through a lot of pretty impressive things and not really show a lot of emotion. You just teared up a little bit talking about your wife. Obviously it can be a pretty lonely road being on TOUR and that's been an adjustment for you over the last couple years. What has she meant to you throughout this time to have her on the journey with you?
DAVIS THOMPSON: Yeah, she means everything to me. We knew each other in high school; started dating in college. So I've known her forever. She's my best friend and I'm just -- I felt a lot more comfortable this year having her on the road with me and traveling together.
Last year it kind of got lonely just because we weren't married yet until May. Even then I felt like I was still kind of traveling alone.
It's been awesome to have her by my side. Wouldn't want anybody else.
Q. Address securing the British Open exemption with this victory and how you get ready in a matter of two weeks to go compete there?
DAVIS THOMPSON: Yeah, my goal coming into this year was to try and play in all four majors, and unfortunately didn't play the Masters or the PGA.
My game has just come along this last few months. To be able to qualify for such a historic event like The Open is awesome. I've never been over to Scotland land, so pretty excited to get over there and prepare.
Like I said, hopefully get some rest.
Q. You made some changes I think in your bag two or three months ago. How has that really made things click for you here recently?
DAVIS THOMPSON: Yeah, big shoutout to Craig Allen at Sea Island. He helped me getting my iron specs and the right golf ball dialed in.
Thankfully, we found a combination that worked around I guess a Dominican Republic tournament; finished 18th there.
So I feel like I was in a good spot and was able to just keep it going. Yeah, just switching back to an older driver head that I've used in the past, and new irons and diversity shaft and different golf ball has helped out a lot.
THE MODERATOR: Davis, we couldn't be more proud of you. Congratulations on your first PGA TOUR win right here at the John Deere Classic.
DAVIS THOMPSON: Thank you.
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