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Golf Monthly
Golf Monthly
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Matt Cradock

Michael Thorbjornsen Cards Epic Final Round To Win Maiden PGA Tour Title At Rocket Classic

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Michael Thorbjornsen can now call himself a PGA Tour winner, with the American pulling away from the chasing pack via an incredible back nine that required just 30 strokes.

Going out in two-under on the final day at the Rocket Classic, Thorbjornsen then birdied the 10th, 12th, 14th and 15th to sit two clear with just a handful of holes remaining.

Keeping clear of the pack, he cemented his spot at the top of the leaderboard via a final hole birdie from 25-feet, with the seven-under 63 handing him a comfortable win at Detroit Golf Club.

Thorbjornsen celebrates his victory on the 18th green (Image credit: Getty Images)

Beginning the final day, it was Davis Riley who led by one but, following a poor start from the American, he saw his lead extinguished with the chasing pack making moves on Sunday.

The likes of Xander Schauffele, Cameron Young and Michael Brennan made jumps but, following a competitive front nine, it was Thorbjornsen who put the hammer down over the remainder of the round.

Birdieing the 10th, a chip-in at the 12th gave the 24-year-old some serious momentum going down the stretch, as excellent birdies at the 14th and 15th put him two clear with three to play.

None of the chasing pack were making moves and, following easy pars at the 16th and 17th, two solid blows at the 18th left Thorbjornsen a 25-foot putt for birdie and a seven-under 63.

Striking the putt, it never looked anywhere else, with it taking the break and dropping in for a seventh birdie of the day, giving Thorbjornsen a three-shot margin as the final group made their way on to the 17th.

Riley was the nearest challenger, but a bogey at the par 4 meant he was three back, giving himself no chance of contending for the win, thus handing the trophy to Thorbjornsen.

Schauffele rallied to finish solo second at Detroit Golf Club (Image credit: Getty Images)

Speaking after his round, the American stated: "I don't know how to feel right now. It was such a battle out there and everyone, I felt, was in the mix at some point today.

"I'm really happy I stuck to the process and committed to hitting certain shots. I feel like I've been on the Tour a few years now and you have to block it all out.

"I just started working with (Sean) Foley a month ago and I feel like I've got to a point in my swing where I'm comfortable. I'm glad to see the hard work and patience has paid off."

Rocket Classic Leaderboard

  • -18 Michael Thorbjornsen (63)
  • -16 Xander Schauffele (65)
  • -15 Davis Riley (70)
  • -14 Rasmus Hojgaard (68)
  • -13 Hideki Matsuyama (64)
  • -13 Matt Wallace (67)
  • -13 Kristoffer Ventura (68)
  • -12 Davis Thompson (66)
  • -12 Ryan Gerard (67)
  • -12 Patrick Cantlay (68)
  • -12 Michael Kim (69)
  • -12 Chris Kirk (70)
  • -12 Rickie Fowler (70)
  • -12 Cameron Young (70)
  • -11 Doug Ghim (67)
  • -11 Keegan Bradley (67)
  • -11 Sungjae Im (67)
  • -11 Rico Hoey (68)
  • -11 Michael Brennan (73)

THE STORY SO FAR

This really is anyones to win on Sunday, with a three-way share of the lead taking place between Rasmus Hojgaard, Michael Thorbjornsen and Davis Riley.

Among the chasing pack are Xander Schauffele and Chris Kirk, with a thrilling finish set-up at the Rocket Classic.

CLUBHOUSE TARGET SET

Hideki Matsuyama is in the clubhouse and he has set the target at 13-under.

Given the amount of players at 14-under and 15-under, it's unlikely to win, but it's a strong week for the Major winner.

KIM DROPS A SHOT

Michael Kim was 14-under, but a dropped shot at the 15th means he goes to 13-under and two back of the leaders.

SUPERB FROM THOR

Thorbjornsen comes up slightly short at the par 5 14th and, with his chip, he plays it exquisitely to inches.

He should tap that in and move to 16-under, giving him the outright lead.

BIRDIES GALORE

Thorbjornsen birdies and he moves to 16-under, while Schauffele joins Hojgaard and Riley at 15-under, thanks to his birdie at the par 5 14th.

MOMENTUM CONTINUES

Thorbjornsen birdies the 14th and, at the par 3 15th, puts a wedge in close and sets up a great chance for birdie.

It puts his playing partner, Xander Schauffele, under pressure, as the two-time Major winner comes up short and spins off the green.

Thorbjornsen, who is searching for a first PGA Tour win, will have that to move two clear.

TEXTBOOK FROM THOR

The tee shot deserved a birdie and, at the par 3 15th, Thorbjornsen rolls in a seven-footer to move to 17-under.

That's four birdies in six holes and the American is now two clear of Schauffele, Hojgaard and Riley.

In Thorbjornsen's group, Schauffele pars to remain at 15-under and Ventura bogeys to drop to 13-under.

EAGLE CHANCE UPCOMING

Riley produces a gorgeous fairway wood approach into the par 5 14th, leaving himself a good chance at eagle.

In his group, Michael Brennan goes left and gets a lucky break, with his ball finishing in the second cut.

Hojgaard, meanwhile, pounds his drive down the left-side, but plays a poor second that causes a frustrated reaction, with his shot finishing away from the green.

ONE OF US

NOT HAPPENING FOR YOUNG

He shared the lead at the halfway stage but, this weekend, Cameron Young hasn't fired with the American 13-under for the tournament.

One-under on the front today, the World No.3 has parred every hole on the back nine, with Young producing many close calls throughout.

RILEY WITHIN ONE

A superb fairway wood at the 14th is rewarded by a two-putt birdie for Riley, who moves to 16-under and within one of Thorbjornsen.

Speaking of the leader, he has just parred the 16th and remains 17-under.

POOR FOLLOW UP

After birdieing the 14th, Riley pulls his tee shot left at the par 3 15th and only just catches the left-side of the green.

That will be a tricky two-putt for the American, who is chasing Thorbjornsen, who finds the fairway at the par 4 17th.

WHAT A FINISH FROM WALLACE

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Wallace is looking to make it into the FedEx Cup Playoffs and, thanks to an eagle-birdie-par-bogey-birdie finish, he is projected to move to 82nd.

The top 70 qualify for the FedEx St. Jude Championship, but a strong finish will help the Englishman in terms of next week.

NEAR MISS AT 14

Both Hojgaard and Brennan narrowly miss their birdie chances at the par 3 14th, with both men remaining 15-under and 14-under.

Up ahead, Schauffele pulls his approach well left and into the bunker at the 17th, with Thorbjornsen finding the green with his approach.

BIG SAVE FOR XANDER

He made a mistake with his approach at the 17th, but Schauffele clears up well with a sandy par to remain 15-under.

Thorbjornsen, meanwhile, two putts for his par and remains at 17-under. He is still clear of Riley, who has found the fairway at the 16th.

SO GOOD FROM THE LEADER

He hasn't been phased at all this back nine, with Thorbjornsen pounding his tee shot down the middle at the 72nd hole.

The leader is in good shape, as is Schauffele, who follows his fellow countryman with a beauty down the center line.

RILEY PARS THE 16TH

It's a solid par for Riley at the par 4 16th and he remains one back of Thorbjornsen.

Brennan, meanwhile, has made a hash of this hole and, after flying the green with his third, leaves seven-feet to save bogey.

SO SOLID

Thorbjornsen leaves himself 168-yards in at the last and, with a low iron in hand, he plays a great approach to the middle of the green.

He leaves 20-feet for birdie and is on-course for a maiden PGA Tour win, unless his nearest challengers can produce something special over the final few holes.

WHAT A FINISH FROM THOR

That is special from Thorbjornsen, who birdies the final hole, which ranks as the second hardest on the course, via a 25-footer.

He sets the clubhouse target at 18-under and leads by two strokes. Riley is 16-under, and will need to finish birdie-birdie to force a playoff.

UNREAL FROM THE AMERICAN

XANDER BIRDIES

Along with Thorbjornsen, Schauffele also birdies the final hole to finish 16-under. He joins Riley in second, as of now.

RILEY MAKES BOGEY

He found the greenside bunker with his approach at the 17th and, following a poor third, Riley leaves his par putt short.

The American falls to 15-under, while Hojgaard also remains on that number following a par.

That all-but hands the trophy to Thorbjornsen.

YOUR ROCKET CLASSIC WINNER

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STATS

FINAL GROUP FINISHES UP

Although the trophy has gone to Thorbjornsen, there's still the small matter of the final group.

In terms of Brennan, he pars the last for a three-over-par round of 73. He finishes 11-under and in a share of 15th.

Hojgaard, meanwhile, bogeys to drop to 14-under and finish solo fourth, while Riley two-putts for par to stay 15-under. He is solo third and that's his best finish of the season.

A FAMILY WIN

WHAT IT MEANS TO WIN YOUR FIRST PGA TOUR TITLE

(Image credit: Getty Images)
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