by ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — Michael Thorbjornsen underwent knee surgery and lost the brace in time to post an 8-under 64 on the Plantation Course Thursday and share the lead in a tie with fellow Stanford Maverick McNealy at the RSM End of season classic. on the PGA Tour.
McNealy had an 8-under 62 on the Seaside course at Sea Island, which was more exposed to the cold wind ripping through the Golden Isles.
Thorbjornsen wasn’t the most high-profile player with knee problems and a brace. Ludvig Åberg, the world’s No. 5 player, had not competed since the Tour Championship, taking time off for meniscus surgery and returning to the venue where he tied the PGA Tour 72-hole scoring record.
This file seems safe, at least for him. Åberg’s impeccable swing seemed stronger than ever. It was the short game – chipping and putting – that held him back during his round of 73 at Seaside.
“It was hard. Obviously it was a difficult day,” said Åberg. “I felt a lot of rust, but I also felt like the good was pretty good but the bad was really bad. A bit of everything today, but overall, pretty happy to be back playing golf.
Ditto for Thorbjornsen, who earned a PGA Tour University top-ranked player card. He was doing well until he felt a pop in his knee while preparing for the Black Desert Championship in Utah in early October.
He thought he could get by until he could barely walk at all. It turned out to be a sprained ligament in his left knee, which required time off work instead of surgery. He returned without missing a step, grateful to no longer wear a heavy corset.
“It’s actually kind of funny, I was training with Ludvig a little bit at Sawgrass and we both had a matching left knee brace,” Thorbjornsen said. “It was a bit embarrassing. I think this is my third day playing without a brace, so that feels good.
The RSM Classic is the final tournament of the year and the focus is on the top 125. This is the last year where the top 125 in the FedEx Cup standings earn cards.
The PGA Tour brought together Zac Blair (No. 123), Joel Dahmen (No. 124) and Wesley Bryan (No. 125). Bryan had a 70 on Plantation, Dahmen dashed his hopes with a 73 and Blair came in with a 72.
The other key number is finishing between 51st and 60th in the FedExCup, which would earn him spots in $20 million marquee events at Pebble Beach and Riviera early next year.
McNealy did enough to secure those spots. He was more interested in how swing changes take effect and he had some impressive moments. McNealy stepped up behind the 15th green for eagle. What caught his attention were two shots that led to par given the strong wind on the exposed Seaside course.
He started on No. 10, which during testing was a driver over the bunkers and a sand wedge to the green. With the wind, he was unable to cover the bunkers and ended up with a 5-iron to the green.
“I just had to hit two great shots in the middle of the green,” he said.
On his last hole, the ninth, he faced a strong wind on the right.
“I just leaned to the left and was able to hit the window (of his target) and spin the ball a little bit from left to right to catch the wind, and it was a shot I was never with not very comfortable six months ago,” says McNealy.
Andrew Novak, fresh off a runner-up finish in Bermuda, shot a 7-under 65 at Plantation. Given his location a week ago in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, where gusts approached 50 mph, he figured Sea Island was a breeze.
“Today it wasn’t as windy as it was in Bermuda and I felt like I could sink a few putts and make some,” Novak said.
