For second time in as many days, PGA Tour pro cards three eagles at the Rocket

Tony Paul, The Detroit News on Jun 28, 2025

Published in Golf

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DETROIT — The eagles sure are landing at Detroit Golf Club this week.

On Saturday, for the second time in as many days, a PGA Tour pro had three eagles in a single round — but Davis Thompson actually has a leg up in the bragging department on Friday's eagle-eyed Philip Knowles.

Thompson's three eagles all came on the same nine holes, the front at DGC. He made eagle on three of his first eight holes in Saturday's third round of the Rocket Classic. He also made three bogeys on his first nine holes. He opened with a 32 en route to a 6-under 66 to put him in contention heading into Sunday's final round.

"It was pretty chaotic," Thompson said after his round. "I don't think I've ever had that. I've had three eagles in a round before, but I haven't had it all in one nine holes.

"I didn't make many pars on that front nine."

Thompson holed out from 79 yards on the par-4 first hole. Then, after back-to-back bogeys at the fifth and sixth holes, he made consecutive eagles at the par-5 seventh and the par-4 eighth.

At the seventh, Thompson rolled in a putt of 37 feet.

Then, at the eight, he drove the green on the 352-yard hole, to 7 feet, and made the putt.

Thompson didn't think he could reach the green from the tee at eight, but a crosswind and a firm bounce got him cozy for the eagle putt. He didn't realize how close he was till he was in the fairway, about 100 yards out.

"Pretty nice," Thompson said with a grin.

Thompson, 26, of Atlanta, made bogey at the tough, par-3 ninth hole. He shot a 2-under 34 on the back nine, finishing with a bogey at the par-4 18th.

On Friday, Knowles became the second PGA Tour player this season to card three eagles in a single round (Knowles had just two eagles total on the year coming into Rocket week), chipping in on three par 5s en route to a share of the lead at 14 under at the halfway point of the seventh annual Rocket.

Thompson enters Sunday's final round five strokes back of leader Aldrich Potgieter, who was 19 under. Thompson tied for second at last year's Rocket, a springboard to his first PGA Tour win the following week.

"I'm a big fan of old-school, tree-lined golf courses, which is what this is," Thompson said. "And I seem to putt these greens pretty well, so it's a good combination.

"You know, four par 5s never hurts either (he was 5 under on the par 5s Saturday), so you're able to have a lot of scoring opportunities. Hopefully (I) keep it going tomorrow."

There already have been more eagles at this year's Rocket than last year, when there were 47 in the four rounds.