He graduated from Georgia Tech in 2005 with a degree in business management and was a member of the 2002 ACC championship team.

Later in the season, he cashed his largest paycheck when he earned $276,000 for finishing in a tie for 2nd at the Ginn sur Mer Classic, a Fall Series event, behind Ryan Palmer.

In 2009, Thompson recorded only one top-10 finish, at the Frys.com Open, and kept his Tour card by just two places on the final money list.

In 2013, he made 20 of 29 cuts on the PGA Tour, with seven top-25 finishes, including a tie for sixth at the Humana Challenge and a solo fourth in the Sanderson Farms Championship.

When Lexi became the youngest player to ever play in the U.S. Women's Open in 2007, Nicholas helped her in practice rounds before going to that week's Nationwide Tour event.