The Loop

Even the kids are playing bomb and gouge

July 21, 2010

Here is Greg Johnson's report in the Grand Rapids Press on Curtis Thompson, the medalist at the U.S. Junior Amateur at Egypt Valley Country Club in Ada, Mich.:

"Thompson has decided to ignore the constraints of long rough and hit his driver on all but two of the par-4 and par-5 holes.

"'Driver gets me to gap wedge or pitching wedge,' he said. 'I get down there, it's no big deal even from the rough because it's a wedge.'"

Thompson, incidentally, is the older brother of Alexis Thompson, the 15-year-old who recently turned professional and tied for 10th in the U.S. Women's Open, and the younger brother of PGA Tour player Nicholas Thompson. Thompson had rounds of 68 and 66 to better Jordan Spieth by one and advance to the match play.

-- John Strege