Michael Thompson is heading to Augusta and next month’s Masters after driving off with victory in the Honda Classic title.

Thompson, 27  held his nerve to win a maiden PGA Tour title by just two strokes with a one under par 69 for a nine under par victory tally on the PGA National course at Palm Beach Gardens.

“I wanted to just stick to a game plan just like I’ve been saying all week,” said the Birmingham, Alabama based Thompson.

“This week was magical, just find a groove, keep believing.”

Michael Thompson with Honda Classic trophy. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)

Thompson arrived in Florida with just one FedEx Cup point having made the halfway cut in just one of four events on this year’s PGA Tour before arriving in Florida.

Thompson was handed a first prize cheque of $1.026m compared to having just earned $10,919 this season.  He also earns a PGA Tour exemptino to the end of 2015.

Australia’s Geoff Ogilvy, who finished second, has qualified for Thursday’s commencing WGC – Cadillac Championship at Doral in producing one of his best finishes since he was third in the 2011 BMW Championship.

And like Thompson, the Adelaide-born golfer had made just one cut in five events this year coming to PGA National.

As well, the current World No. 79 ranked Ogilvy will move up inside the top-50 on the World Rankings and the likelihood of joining Thompson in the Masters after the disappointment of ending 2012 as ranked 51st in the world.

Ogilvy, winner of the 2006 US Open, birdied the last also in a score of 69 and a seven under par tally.

And England’s David Lynn secured his best finish since joining the PGA Tour this year in grabbing a share of fourth place after birding his closing two holes, including holing a 78-feet bunker shot at the par three 7th, for a closing 69 and a  three-under par tally.

Also at four under par and heading to his defence of this week’s Cadillac Championship was fellow Englishman Justin Rose who signed off for a 71 and one fewer than Graeme McDowell (70) and Lee Westwood (74) who shared ninth spot at two under par.

And McDowell was one of the first to single out new Thompson for praise, and especially after he shared second with Thompson at last year’s U.S. Open.

“Players are coming out, young guys are coming out more and more ready for the Tour than years gone by,” McDowell said.

“Whether that’s something to do with the quality of amateur golf, the quality of college golf, something, but the guys are coming out more and more ready. Great to see around a golf course this difficult and great to see Michael pull off the win.”