Family, friends and a familiar golf course are on Michael Thorbjornsen’s side this week as he makes his PGA Tour debut at the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Conn., on Thursday.
The 22-year-old grew up in New England and will be making his third start at TPC River Highlands, where he placed fourth as an amateur in 2022.
“This is definitely my home,” Thorbjornsen said during his media session Wednesday. “… Love this place. It’s close to home. Love the golf course. Travelers, they do an amazing job of hosting the players, the caddies, incredible hospitality and, yeah, I couldn’t ask for a better start.”
Thorbjornsen played collegiate golf at Stanford and earned his PGA Tour card for the remainder of 2024 and all of 2025 by finishing at the top of the PGA Tour University rankings.
He shot 15-under at the Travelers in 2022, four shots behind winner Xander Schauffele. Due to his amateur status, his $406,700 in prize money went to fifth-place finisher Chesson Hadley. Thorbjornsen played all four rounds in the 60s.
Thorbjornsen expects to have plenty of support along the course when the PGA Tour’s final signature event of the season tees off.
“Yeah, I got my dad out here who is obviously my coach, so, I mean, he kind of comes to all the tournaments,” he said. “But I think my mom’s coming out, a couple friends from high school. I kind of live in the area, so I’m sure I’ll see them around here and there.”
He said previously playing this event will help him navigate the transition from amateur to professional.
“The past couple years I’ve been exposed to more and more of this, so it’s not too much of a shock to the system,” he said. “I guess I’m getting used to it. It’s okay, I really don’t mind it at all.”
–Field Level Media
