PGA Tour Rookie Says "Just Keep Trying Your Best" Ahead of Players' Final Round

Mar 15, 2026, 1:36 PM CUT

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Michael Thorbjornsen enters the final round of The Players Championship with a simple mindset.

The rookie on the PGA Tour is still early in his professional journey, but he has already placed himself in contention at TPC Sawgrass.

Speaking during a Saturday press conference, Michael Thorbjornsen explained how earlier experiences in contention have shaped his approach.

“Just keep trying your best. If you keep putting yourself in that position, it's going to happen at some point.”

Thorbjornsen turned professional in June 2024 after finishing No. 1 in the PGA Tour University Class of 2024. The result followed his college career at Stanford University and earned him a direct path to the tour.

Since then, he has continued to produce results. In his third professional start, he finished runner-up at the 2024 John Deere Classic. The performance signaled his arrival on tour.

He carried that momentum into the following season. During 2025, he recorded five top-10 finishes, including a tie for second at the Corales Puntacana Championship and a third-place finish at the Baycurrent Classic. Earlier this season, he also tied for third at the WM Phoenix Open.

Looking ahead to Sunday, Thorbjornsen explained what players ultimately aim for.

Michael Thorbjornsen Says Every Player Wants a Chance on the back nine on Sunday

Michael Thorbjornsen also added that for players on tour, the goal is simple:

“So I think that's really the main goal of all of us players out here is to have a chance or be in contention on the back nine on Sunday, and however the cards may fall, that's just how it is.”

From there, Thorbjornsen’s position at The Players Championship reflects exactly the situation he described.

The 24-year-old will enter the final round at TPC Sawgrass in second place at 10-under par. He moved into that spot after shooting a 5-under 67 on Saturday, placing him three shots behind leader Ludvig Åberg.

His week began with an opening-round 74. However, he climbed the leaderboard with a 65 on Friday, followed by a 67 in the third round. That round included an eagle on the par-5 11th and birdies at the 16th and 17th.

Following the round, Thorbjornsen will play in the final pairing on Sunday alongside Åberg.

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Kalp Thaker