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Thorbjornsen Wins Final Rocket Classic, $1.8 M Prize

8/3/2026

23 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Thorbjornsen Wins

Michael Thorbjornsen, 24, won his first PGA Tour title at the 2026 Rocket Classic, shooting a 7-under 63 and finishing 18 under.
He took the lead with birdies on holes 14 and 15 and sealed the win with a 26-foot birdie putt on the 18th.
The win paid $1.8 million, lifted him to No. 69 in the FedEx Cup and led Rocket Mortgage to end its $15 million sponsorship after eight editions.

Summary

Riley Leads

The PGA Tour warned Sunday rain could move the unfinished round to Monday.
If Monday proved unplayable, the tournament would be cut to 54 holes using Saturday’s leaderboard.
Davis Riley entered the final round one shot ahead despite a tough season in which his only top-10 came at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
The 2026 Rocket Classic was the eighth and final edition, which had never needed a Monday finish.

Summary

Rocket Classic Ends

$16.1 million renovations turned two par-5s into par-4s and added fescue, ditches, Donald Ross greens.
Redesign lowered cut line from 6-under in 2025 to 3-under in 2026, with 73 making the cut.
Because the PGA Tour will split into tours in 2028, organizers said the Rocket Classic will end after this year.
Final-round tee times moved to 10:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m., with gates opening at 9:30 a.m., hospitality at 11 a.m., and a finish of 5:45 p.m.

History

Historical Context

The PGA Tour launched the FedEx Cup in 2007, creating a points race and playoffs that grew to a $70 million bonus pool by 2019. Rule changes in 2008 and 2013 tightened playoff points and linked standings to tour eligibility, illustrating Tour’s use of the format to raise purses. 2026 Rocket Classic’s sponsor exit and winner’s share echo this trend of prize money and shifting governance.

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Thorbjornsen Wins

Michael Thorbjornsen, 24, won his first PGA Tour title at the 2026 Rocket Classic, shooting a 7-under 63 and finishing 18 under.
He took the lead with birdies on holes 14 and 15 and sealed the win with a 26-foot birdie putt on the 18th.
The win paid $1.8 million, lifted him to No. 69 in the FedEx Cup and led Rocket Mortgage to end its $15 million sponsorship after eight editions.

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