Why his PGA Tour rookie is old school

Braden Thornberry’s first Korn Ferry Tour victory came at the perfect time.

The 27-year-old pro birdied the 72nd hole at the Pete Dye Course at French Lick Golf Resort to shoot a final-round six-under 66 and win the season-ending Korn Ferry Tour Championship earlier this month. More importantly, that victory — his 104th career Korn Ferry start — helped him secure his PGA Tour card for the first time in his career.

Thornberry entered that week 51st on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List, and with his win he became the only pro from outside the top 30 to move inside it (the top 30 were awarded PGA Tour cards for 2025), knocking out Sam Bennett.

The former top-ranked amateur in the world, 2017 NCAA champion and Fred Haskins Award winner will now finally be able to test his game at the top level. And he’ll do so with a slightly different approach than some of his peers.

Thornberry plays fast — like, really fast — and is more of a throwback, feel-first player, one who tries not to get too bogged down in analytics or swing thoughts. He joined this week’s GOLF Subpar podcast to discuss his mentality.

“A lot of times people are slow and I don’t even realize it until like the back nine or something,” Thornberry said. “But the stuff that really gets me is like the AimPoint on the 2-footers and stuff — that always burns me up a little bit. I’m just very much a feel player, a reactive player. Everybody is different but I feel like that’s kind of what golf is, and unfortunately I think over the last 10 years it’s turned a little away from that into like a robot game, math game, which works for some people, but I think some people might even be better on the PGA Tour if they were more feel-based instead of being more computer-minded.”

Thornberry works with instructor Scott Hamilton, but even their relationship isn’t as hands-on as some other players and teachers on Tour. Thornberry says he doesn’t prefer to work with teachers on tournament weeks but would rather focus on a direction or key area about a month in advance, then use the time up until his next start to put everything in place.

“[Teachers are] at the tournaments and everybody is so technical; it just turns the game into not really a game anymore, almost like you are trying to do everything so perfect and it’s never very fun,” Thornberry said. “I’ve noticed I play my best golf when I’m feeling good and having fun, and even playing fast. I feel like when I’m playing well I read putts less and less and can get rolling a little bit. … I’ve seen guys with like wind charts on how far it’s going to go and stuff. And it’s not like I don’t believe in it — I do think it works for certain people — but it’s just not my style.”