Amateur Thorbjornsen channeling Ouimet
Parallels with the 1913 champion for Wellesley native
BROOKLINE » The American Revolution started in Lexington and Concord in 1775. America’s golf revolution started at The Country Club in 1913. That was when 20-year- old amateur Francis Ouimet, who lived about an 8-iron from the 17th tee, defeated vaunted British professionals Ted Ray and Harry Vardon in the U.S. Open.
Ouimet entered the tournament as the reigning Mass. Amateur champion and finished a shot back in qualifying.
Fast forward 109 years later as the U. S. Open returns to Brookline and the top local entry is another 20- year- old amateur, Michael Thorbjornsen of Wellesley. Like Ouimet, Thorbjornsen won the Mass. Am a year ago, and did so in remarkable fashion with 18 birdies over 30 holes and finished one shot back of the medalists in Final Qualifying, earning his spot in an 8-for-3 playoff in Purchase, New York.
The Stanford sophomore is hoping history can find a way to repeat itself this week.
“My caddie ( Drew Cohen) and I, we went to the merchandise tent on Thursday or so, and we bought matching T- shirts. I think it was 1913 Francis — it was a silhouette of Francis and his caddie, Eddie (Lowery). Definitely trying to channel that energy this week.
“I’ve watched ‘The Greatest Game Ever Played’ maybe eight times. One of
my favorite movies. I think it’s really cool, the position that I’m in and how it emulates Francis a little bit, but I mean, I’m a different person than him. I’m going to try to do the same thing that he did and just hope for the best.”
Thorbjornsen is the 2018 U.S. Junior Amateur cham
pion. That victory earned him a spot in the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, where he made the cut. He won the Western Amateur, one of the top amateur events in the country, a year ago.
He earned All-pac-12 honors and was named to the Ping All-american second
team this year at Stanford.
Thorbjornsen played this morning with Caleb Manuel, an amateur from Topsham, Maine, who just finished his sophomore year at Uconn and was co-medalist at the Purchase site.
For the first time in three years, Thorbjornsen had his father Thorbjorn by his side. Michael said that despite living thousands of miles apart, they find a way to make it work.
“I think it was at the U.S. Am in 2019 at Pinehurst was the last time I saw him,” Thorbjornsen said. “So it’s really good to have you out here, Dad. Thanks for coming.”
The Travelers Championship, the PGA Tour event near Hartford that follows the U.S. Open, gave Thorbjornsen a sponsor’s exemption, so he will be playing in that before heading to Europe for a British Open qualifier and the Arnold Palmer Cup in Switzerland in early July before taking a few weeks off to rest a left wrist that has been troublesome.
Before he started preparing for this week’s event, Thorbjornsen said he had only played the Championship Course once before about six years ago. He was asked why he hadn’t played the course that much.
“Have you heard of The Country Club? I mean, Tom Brady tried to become a member here. I think it took him a long time. I’m not even sure if he actually did become a member,” Thorbjornsen said. “But I would have loved to have played here as many times as I can, but here I am now able to play a couple of times before the tournament starts. I feel like it’s definitely helped a little bit.”
Brady’s wife, Gisele Bundchen, eventually became a member.
Thorbjornsen will be the first group off of No. 1 on Thursday at 6:45 a.m. with Erik Barnes and Matt McCarty.
Where are we?
The majority of the 156-player field has never played The Country Club in tournament conditions.
Justin Thomas and Bryson Dechambeau have gone on to win majors after playing in the 2013 U.S. Amateur.
The winner of that tournament, Matt Fitzpatrick, has been in solid form, having tied for 10th last weekend at the Canadian Open and tying for fifth at the PGA Championship last month.
He is keeping things very similar to eight years ago trying to find good vibes once again.
“This U. S. Open is obviously different for obvious reasons for me just because of winning the U. S. Amateur here and just having such an amazing experience last time,” Fitzpatrick said. “For me, I feel like this week is about just enjoying it and knowing that I do have a chance because, A, I’ve had success here before, even though it was a long time ago, and B, like you say, I’ve been playing well.
“I’m just really looking forward to it. It’s been on my radar for years that I knew it was obviously coming here. Yeah, that’s all there is to it for me this week. I’m staying with the family I stayed with when I played the Amateur here and my parents are here, as well, so I’m just really excited for the week more than anything.”
Three players — Jim Furyk, Sergio Garcia and Phil Mickelson — were involved in the 1999 Ryder Cup. The United States rallied from a 10- 6 deficit after the second day for a 14.5-13.5 victory. Garcia was 3-1-1 in his matches, Mickelson was 2-2- 0 while Furyk was 1-2- 0.