Detroit, Aug 3 (IANS) Michael Thorbjornsen, who entered the week in 69th place on the FedExCup standings, secured his place in the FedExCup Playoffs with a win at the Rocket Classic. The top 70 advance to the postseason after next week’s Wyndham Championship, but the 24-year-old Thorbjornsen is assured.
Thorbjornsen won the 2018 U.S. Junior Amateur over Akshay Bhatia, who has three PGA TOUR wins. He went straight to the PGA TOUR in 2024 as the No. 1 player in the PGA Tour University ranking.
The Indian-origin players, Akshay Bhatia, who missed the cut, Hero-supported Sahith Theegala, Aaron Rai and Sudarshan Yellamaraju, will also be at the Play-offs.
Thorbjornsen exulted after making a 26-foot putt for birdie on his last hole to shoot 7-under 63 and reach 18 under to win his first PGA TOUR title by two shots at the Rocket Classic on Sunday.
Thorbjornsen started the fourth round three shots behind leader Davis Riley, whose rough start opened the doors for the field. Thorbjornsen took advantage, surging into the lead at No. 14 with his third of four birdies in a six-hole stretch and closing with a clutch, curling putt that went in the right side of the cup.
Xander Schauffele (65) briefly led during the final round and finished second, two shots behind Thorbjornsen. Davis Riley (70), the overnight leader, was third, falling out of the lead with four bogeys. Rasmus Hojgaard (68) was alone in fourth, four shots back.
Thorbjornsen chipped in from 35 feet for birdie at No. 12 on a day when he accurately aimed for pins that left him with some short birdie putts before his long one on his 72nd hole.
He had a bogey-free round as many other players on the leaderboard were unable to pull it off on a day that started with rain and became windy when the clouds cleared.
Riley started with a one-shot lead and quickly lost it – and couldn’t find his ball in fescue at No. 4 after about a dozen people helped him try – with three bogeys through six holes. He recovered with three birdies in a seven-hole stretch before giving back a stroke with a bogey at No. 17, taking away his chance to possibly force the tournament into a playoff.
Hideki Matsuyama (64), Matt Wallace (67), and Kristoffer Ventura (68) were another stroke back, tied for fifth.
–IANS
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