THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

March 14, 2026

Michael Thorbjornsen

TPC Sawgrass

Quick Quotes

Q. When you're having to claw from behind, how much do you have to change maybe in your game plan?

MICHAEL THORBJORNSEN: I don't think I have to change too much, especially on courses like this. I think if you play some really steady golf you'll run into some birdies. Does anyone have a bogey-free round either yesterday or today? I'm not too sure, but there aren't many. So I think slow and steady wins the race, and we're just going to play some solid golf.

Q. You got the bad start with the wave and the wind and everything on Thursday. Did you feel like you had to make any big changes for your turnaround over the last couple days?

MICHAEL THORBJORNSEN: No, my caddie and I, as well as my dad, who is my swing coach, we all talked about how like I feel like I played really played much better than my score on Thursday. We just misclubbed a couple times and, yeah, had some wrong numbers, whether it was should have hit a pitching wedge or a 7-iron instead of a 6-iron or whatever it may be. But those shots I did execute very well, just unfortunate that it led to some bogeys.

Q. What made you decide to move to Jacksonville after college?

MICHAEL THORBJORNSEN: This course right here. PGA TOUR headquarters just off site too definitely helps out. I know a lot of younger guys coming out of college are kind of moving into the area. So, yeah, it's a pretty good spot.

Q. Do you get to play the course much throughout the year?

MICHAEL THORBJORNSEN: I've probably played it maybe six times, I would say, since I've moved here. It's never really in perfect condition like it is right now. So I like to play the Dye most of the time during kind of the off-season where the greens are a little faster and firmer -- or sorry, the Valley Course. But, yeah, I've played it enough to kind of know like sight lines and kind of the general flow of the course.

Q. Have you played a bunch with Ludvig even here in Jacksonville?

MICHAEL THORBJORNSEN: Yeah, Lud and I have played a good amount. We've played Valley Course, we've played -- I think we've played Stadium. I'm not sure. But we've gone way back to junior golf. We've played a lot of college golf together. Yeah, I'll see him in the locker room and say what's up.

Q. How cool is it, pretty wild, that -- I mean, we'll see if it holds, but you guys could be paired together here at THE PLAYERS, both living in Jacksonville. In the final group?

MICHAEL THORBJORNSEN: Yeah, that would be pretty cool. He's a great guy. I love playing golf with him. He was one of the guys in college that I looked up to, even though he's only one year older than me. Very solid, very solid player. I think his mental game is extremely good as well. So if it ends up happening, I'm really looking forward to it and then, yeah, pretty cool that I guess two hometown guys are in the final group.

Q. I know you haven't been here long but have you built up a bit of a following of people out here?

MICHAEL THORBJORNSEN: I'm not sure. I'm not sure how many people know that I live here. I still. Play out of Wellesley, Massachusetts, when they announce my name, but I live 15, 20 minutes north from here.

Q. As different as this course looks the other 11 months out of the year, do you kind of have to limit yourself to how often you play it during the off-season so that you don't get too used to the other conditions?

MICHAEL THORBJORNSEN: Yeah, that's exactly why I don't really get out here too much. It's a beautiful place. I know Carl Vilips, he'll play out here sometimes and he'll be like, oh, Mike the course is in great shape for some reason right now, I don't know why. But that's probably when I'll go and get a round out here. But it's also cool just to play holes 16, 17, 18, just look at these iconic holes. The whole course is unbelievable. I think it's a really well-designed course, and it's so much fun to play.

Q. You've found yourself in contention a few times now as a pro. What was the biggest lesson you learned in those previous experiences and earlier this year that will come in handy tomorrow?

MICHAEL THORBJORNSEN: Yeah, just keep trying your best. If you keep putting yourself in that position, it's going to happen at some point. 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.