Michael Thorbjornsen records best finish by amateur on TOUR since 2016
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CROMWELL, CONNECTICUT - JUNE 26: Amateur Michael Thorbjornsen of the United States reacts after his round on the 18th green during the final round of Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands on June 26, 2022 in Cromwell, Connecticut. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Escrito por Kevin Prise
Michael Thorbjornsen buries a 20-footer for birdie at Travelers
Last week, Michael Thorbjornsen hit the opening tee shot of the U.S. Open in his native Massachusetts. If that were the summer highlight for the rising Stanford junior, it would have sufficed.
The 20-year-old wasn’t done, though. Not even close. Playing on a sponsor invitation at the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut, just 100 miles from his hometown of Wellesley, Massachusetts, he contended on Sunday in a bid to become the first amateur to win on TOUR since Phil Mickelson in 1991.
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Thorbjornsen nearly pulled it off. When he made a 20-foot birdie on the par-3 11th Sunday to go 6-under on the day, he had pulled within a stroke of leader Xander Schauffele. The fans roared. Historians began to contextualize where he might fit into the record books.
The spry New Englander cooled off down the stretch en route to a 4-under 66 and 15-under total, but his eventual solo fourth-place finish marked the best showing by an amateur on TOUR since Lee McCoy’s solo fourth at the 2016 Valspar Championship. (Braden Thornberry finished T4 at the 2017 FedEx St. Jude Classic.)
Thorbjornsen was showered with adoration from the crowd at TPC River Highlands as he made his way up the 18th fairway Sunday, before two-putting from 20 feet a closing par. He beamed, waved his hand and raised his putter.
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