The ‘Next Tiger’ Joins the PGA Tour, But Almost NOBODY Notices
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Michael Thorbjornsen, Michael Thorbjornsen swing, Michael Thorbjornsen golf
Imagine a high schooler making the cut at a major. A kid with a swing so powerful, he outdrives PGA tour veterans. And somehow… barely anyone notices.
That kid was Michael Thorbjornsen. And now, he’s officially on the PGA Tour – right where he was always meant to be.
This is the story of one of the most overlooked rising stars in golf: a player so gifted, his Stanford coach called him the best driver of the ball he’s ever seen.
So how did he sneak into the big leagues without the world watching? Let’s rewind.
In today’s video we look at The ‘Next Tiger’ Just Entered The PGA Tour And NOBODY Noticed… Keep watching to see Michael Thorbjornsen, Michael Thorbjornsen swing, Michael Thorbjornsen golf
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In 5 years, I will be happy if I’m the number one player in the world. I’m not really sure what I finished, but uh I played some good golf this week. Definitely had some clear mistakes out there. I think lost four balls uh in the last two days. So, imagine a high schooler cutting a major. A kid with a swing so powerful he outd drives PGA Tour veterans and somehow barely anyone notices. That kid was Michael Thorbjornson. And now he’s officially on the PGA Tour. right where he was always meant to be. This is the story of one of the most overlooked rising stars in golf. A player so gifted his Stanford coach called him the best driver of the ball he’s ever seen. So, how did he sneak into the big leagues without the world watching? Let’s rewind. Michael Thorbjornson was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 2001, but his roots stretch across continents. His mother, Sandra Chang, is from Zimbabwe and played college golf at Urselene College in Ohio. His father, Thorbjorn, is originally from Norway. Michael got his first set of plastic clubs when he was just two. By the age of four, he was tagging along to the golf course with his mom, and by six, he was already playing regularly and sharpening his skills around the Boston area, where the family eventually settled. It didn’t take long for his parents to realize he was different. Michael won the US Kids Golf World Championship at age 10 and again at 11. Then came a breakthrough. In 2018, at just 16, he won the US Junior Amateur Championship at Baltus Roll. That victory earned him a spot in the 2019 US Open at Pebble Beach. And here’s where it gets crazy. Michael didn’t just show up, he cut. He finished 79th in his first ever major as a high schooler. In 2020, Michael graduated from high school school with offers from just about every elite golf program in the country. He chose Stanford, the same school Tiger Woods once called home. And at Stanford, his numbers were exceptional. During the 2022 to 2023 college season, he recorded eight top 10 finishes, including a win at the Pack 12 Championship. The year before, he made headlines by finishing fourth at the Travelers Championship while playing on a sponsor exemption. But because he was still an amateur, the 400,000 plus his prize for that spot went to Chessen Hadley, who finished one place behind him. He also represented the United States in multiple international team events, including the 2022 Arnold Palmer Cup and the Eisenhower Trophy, which showed his ability to thrive in highstakes team-based formats. And in 2024, he finished number one in the PGA Tour University ranking, earning his PGA Tour card immediately after college. But stats alone don’t capture what makes him so special. Michael has length. He averages approximately 318 yards off the tea, placing him among the tour’s longest hitters. Even under pressure, he looks unbothered and focused. And he has that unteachable gift, the ability to be creative with his shots. Thorbjornson’s swing is the kind that grabs your attention, not because it looks effortless, but because of what it delivers. His motion is smooth and athletic with a powerful turn and clean contact that launches the ball on a strong wind cutting flight. As he once put it, “When I hit them solid, they are going to go the distance I need them to. They are going to be steady in the wind.” But it’s not just about distance. In his limited rookie starts, he ranked inside the top 10 in greens in regulation percentage. That tells you his swing isn’t just long, it’s also consistent and reliable. He’s not just giving himself highlight real drives, he’s setting himself up with real birdie chances. Michael Thorbjornson officially turned pro in June 2024. And in just his third tour start as a pro, he nearly won the John Deere Classic, ending in a runner-up spot. The momentum continued the following season when he tied for second once again at the Corales Pontakana Championship. And in his first full year on the PGA tour, Michael ranked inside the top five for driving distance through June 2025. For someone just starting, he isn’t just holding his own. He is already making waves. Let’s be clear, there’s probably no next Tiger. Tiger Woods was a once in a sport force. That said, every generation produces a handful of players who make you sit up and wonder. Could this be the start of something special? Michael Thorbjornson is one of those names. He’s not just talented. He’s checked off nearly every box you’d want in a future superstar. He dominated junior circuits, winning prestigious titles like the US Junior Amateur. He cut a major championship while still in high school, something very few amateurs in history have done. He chose Stanford just like Tiger and left with one of the most complete resumes in college golf. And it’s not just the results, it’s also how he gets them. Michael combines explosive power off the tea with being calm under pressure. He thinks his way around the course. He plays smart. As his Stanford coach, Conrad Ray once said, “When he’s on, there aren’t many guys who can drive it better than him that have ever played.” And I don’t say that lightly. Michael’s path definitely won’t be easy. The PGA Tour is deeper than ever, filled with veterans, rising stars, and pressure that doesn’t slow down. And when the spotlight does show up, it’s not always kind. Some players crumble, others chase it too hard and lose their way. But if Michael’s journey so far has shown us anything, it’s that he’s built for this. He doesn’t seem interested in chasing attention. He stays focused, plays smart, and lets his results do the talking. Maybe that’s what makes him so compelling. He’s not trying to create hype, but he’s earning it. And so far, everything in his track record suggests he’s only getting started. Will he become one of the greats? Only time will tell. But if the past few years are any clue, the golf world would be wise to start paying attention.
