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Michael Thorbjornsen wins final Rocket Classic for first PGA Tour victory

Tony Paul, The Detroit News on

Published in Golf

DETROIT — It's a first for the last.

Michael Thorbjornsen won his first tournament on the PGA Tour when he stormed the back nine to claim the title at the last Rocket Classic on what turned out to be a sunny Sunday, after all, at Detroit Golf Club.

Thorbjornsen shot a final-round 63 to finish at 18 under for a two-shot victory. He shot 5 under on the back nine, sealing things with a 26-foot birdie putt before a massive crowd gathered all around the 18th hole.

Two-time major winner Xander Schauffele, one of the biggest names in the field and playing the Rocket for the first time, made a Sunday charge and at one brief point had the lead all to himself. He finished 16 under, solo second place.

Davis Riley, the 54-hole leader, done in by a disastrous driving display on his opening nine holes and couldn't recover, though he did finish in solo third, at 15 under. Rasjmus Hojgaard, one day after shooting a course record-tying 61 (there were three of them this week at renovated DGC), finished fourth at 14 under.

Thorbjornsen, 24, is a Massachusetts native who had a decorated amateur career before turning pro two years ago.

His win gives the PGA Tour another young-gun champion, after 21-year-old Jackson Koivin's win last week. Thorbjornsen takes home the winner's check of $1.8 million.

Thorbjornsen's best finish on the PGA Tour before Sunday was runner-up, which he did twice, including in his third start as a pro at the John Deere Classic in July 2024. His best finish this season had been a tie for seventh at the Scottish Open last month.

He becomes the fourth player to make the Rocket Classic his first PGA Tour win, joining Nate Lashley (2019), Cam Davis (2021) and Aldrich Potgieter (2025), and he held off arguably the best field in the tournament's history to get it done.

Former Masters champ Hideki Matsuyama, Matt Wallace, Kris Ventura and Davis Thompson tied for fifth at 13 under. Cameron Young, ranked No. 3 in the world, finished at 12 under, tied with several players for eighth, including Rickie Fowler, the 2023 Rocket Classic champion who started Sunday three shots back but couldn't mount one last charge.

Fowler did birdie the 18th to elicit one more roar. As he walked off the green, fans yelled, "Thank you, Rickie."

Fowler then grabbed a microphone, and told the crowd, "Thank you, Detroit."

 

Rocket Classic champions

— 2019: Nate Lashley, -25

— 2020: Bryson DeChambeau, -23

— 2021: Cam Davis (playoff), -18

— 2022: Tony Finau, -26

— 2023: Rickie Fowler (playoff), -24

— 2024: Cam Davis, -18

— 2025: Aldrich Potgieter (playoff), -22

— 2026: Michael Thorbjornsen, -18

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©2026 The Detroit News. Visit detroitnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

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