[PHOTO: Ross Kinnaird]
The fan missed Michael Thorbjornsen’s drive at the 14th, preoccupied with siphoning what little coolness remained from his sweating beer can to soothe his scorched forehead, only registering Thorbjornsen’s ball perched on the green when he resettled his flat-brimmed cap. The midday North Carolina humidity hung like a furnace overhead, transforming Quail Hollow into a shimmering cauldron where spectators wilted and sought salvation. “Who hit that?” he drawled, and when the answer “Thor” reached him through the heavy air, his face registered approval. “One of ‘dem flat-bellies,” the fan said, nodding towards Thorbjornsen’s lean frame before adding that such physique was paramount since “it’s a flat-belly course, because you can’t wear down what’s not there”.
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His weathered face creased into a knowing smile that conveyed both wisdom and the pleasant buzz of his fourth Michelob Ultra. His assessment, however inspired, missed the mark through 36 holes, as the powerfully built Jhonattan Vegas is the current leader. But perhaps the beer-soaked prediction was meant for the final round, when stamina separates contenders from pretenders. What is true is Thorbjornsen – with his tour-ready physique and swing that whispers of promise waiting to unfold – stands in contention at the 107th PGA Championship.
Majors change the demographics around the ropes, drawing curious observers who wouldn’t know a wedge from a rescue club alongside seasoned aficionados, yet even the diehards may squint at Thorbjornsen with a mix of curiosity and nascent recognition. His pedigree is solid: a US Junior champion who, while still at Stanford University, made cuts in four professional events including a fourth-place finish at the 2022 Travelers Championship that left tour veterans exchanging meaningful glances. He didn’t necessarily earn the “Next Big Thing” label, his college career paused at various times due to injury, yet his professional cameos combined with several amateur wins bestowed the No.1 spot on the PGA Tour U rankings, unlocking the golden ticket of full-time tour status for the rest of 2024 and all of this season.
Like Ludvig Aberg – who leapt from collegiate rankings to Ryder Cup heroics in a heartbeat – before him, Thorbjornsen validated the PGA Tour U program’s premise, logging a runner-up finish at the John Deere Classic in his third pro start, and added two top-10s during the circuit’s Fall Series. His metamorphosis to the top ranks unfolded with a deceptive ease, which – along with his six-foot-four-inch frame and ball speeds that launched drives ridiculous distances – evoked comparisons with a young Dustin Johnson. That maybe Thor really was the “Next Big Thing”.
The 2025 campaign has interrupted this narrative. He suffered through six missed cuts in his first nine starts with a T-39 standing as his high-water mark, and the conviction that marked his 2024 has seem muted with the realities brought by the grind of week-to-week tour life. There have been signs of turnaround, however, finishing in a tie for second at the alternate-field Puntacana Championship and T-4 at the team-centric Zurich Classic. Those results had come without much fanfare, away from the spotlight of signature events, but they served as a reminder that Thorbjornsen’s struggles may not sideline him for long.
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Still, he materialised as a first-round surprise with a three-under 68, and the form continued in round two, as late into his round the 23-year-old nestled into second place on the leaderboard. The Green Mile intervened, as it has a penchant of doing. Thorbjornsen blew his approaches at the 16th and 17th into greenside bunkers and couldn’t get up-and-down, taking bogeys at both. He mitigated the damage with a par at the final hole, his four-under two-day total (68-70) good enough for T-8 as the afternoon wave comes home in Charlotte. Thorbjornsen was a bit disappointed with the finish, although Vegas’ double-bogey stumble at the 18th keeps him in shouting distance heading into the weekend.
Majors have traditionally exposed the uninitiated, their histories littered with promising rookies whose dreams evaporated under pressure. But unlike his leaderboard neighbours who’ve ridden hot putters – which are prone to overnight cooling – Thorbjornsen has constructed his position on overpowering driving statistics, ranking fourth in strokes gained off-the-tee. Quail Hollow’s particular examination – with elevation changes the only wrinkle in its straightforward set-up – creates conditions where youth’s resilience and athleticism might neutralise experience. The championship’s physical demands grow as the weekend unfolds, especially as hotter and humid temperatures will continue.
Our flat-brimmed prophet thinks so. Momentarily lost in the gallery, he reappeared at the 18th green, clutching what appeared to be a fresh beverage. “You watch,” he said padding his own Santa-worthy midsection with a laugh, although maybe he’s onto something. Beware of the flat-belly.
