Michael Thorbjornsen Withdraws from Sony Open Before Round 1

Michael Thorbjornsen’s PGA Tour comeback hit an unexpected snag Thursday when he pulled out of the Sony Open just before his opening round.

The rising 23-year-old star, who’s been battling injuries lately, was set to tee off at Hawaii’s Waialae Country Club in what would’ve been his first tournament of 2024. No reason was given for his last-minute withdrawal.

Lanto Griffin, who dominated at PGA Tour Q-School last month, stepped in to take Thorbjornsen’s spot.

It’s been quite a journey for the young Stanford standout. After earning his Tour card through PGA Tour University last summer, Thorbjornsen showed he could hang with the pros. He grabbed three top-10 finishes in just 11 starts, including an impressive second-place showing at the John Deere Classic.

But injuries derailed his momentum in late 2023. A stress fracture in his back forced him to skip his senior fall semester at Stanford. While he was recovering, he also underwent ankle surgery.

Golf fans have been eager to see Thorbjornsen back in action, especially after his breakout performances last year proved he’s got what it takes to compete at the highest level.