Michael Thorbjornsen guaranteed 2025 PGA Tour card after Christo Lamprecht's withdrawal from NCAA Men's Golf Championship

Christo Lamprecht's recent injury has dashed his hopes of earning a PGA Tour card, but it has allowed Michael Thorbjornsen to secure his Tour card early.

Lamprecht is currently dealing with a back injury, which led him to withdraw from the 2024 NCAA Men's Golf Championship.

Lamprechet needed to win the tournament and have No. 1 ranked Thorbjornsen finish 10th or worse in order to secure a PGA Tour card. However, since the South African golfer has withdrawn from the tournament, Thorbjornsen has secured the top spot in the standings and earned a PGA Tour card for the rest of 2024 and all of 2025.

Christo Lamprecht's coach, Bruce Heppler, discussed the amateur golfer's injury in an interview and provided an update on his health. He said (via NBC Sports).

"It’s not good. I don’t see it tomorrow myself. It’s locked up, and it spasms. Sometimes that’s from being a little dehydrated and stuff; I had an issue myself in the fall during my fundraiser. And I shared with him, stress is tough. Not that I would ever get lathered up about anything, but my back gets tight when I get like that.

"And it’s been a long spring with a lot on the line and a couple trips to Dallas and Fort Worth to get awards and be part of that stuff, and it’s a lot, and agents... I just know that sometimes stress will certainly exacerbate your back.”

Last year, Ludvig Aberg earned a PGA Tour card thanks to his play throughout the season and secured the spot prior to the NCAA Championship. The Swedish started his professional career smoothly and won his maiden event at the RSM Classic in 2023. Aberg played at the Ryder Cup in his rookie year on the PGA Tour.

Looking at Aberg's phenomenal outing, fans have high hopes for this year's qualifiers. The 2024 NCAA DI Men's Golf Championship is scheduled from May 24 to 29.

---

All about Michael Thorbjornsen's career

Michael Thorbjornsen' (Image via Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Michael Thorbjornsen is one of the top-ranked amateur golfers in the world. The American has been playing golf since the age of two, inspired by his parents, Thorbjorn Thorbjornsen and Sandra Craig, who played golf during college.

Michael Thorbjornsen has had a successful career as an amateur. He won the 2018 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship and competed in the U.S. Open in 2019.

Thorbjornsen enrolled at Stanford University in 2020 and has enjoyed success there as well. He played in the U.S. Open again in 2022 and 2023 but failed to make the cut both times.

In addition to the Majors, Thorbjornsen also competed in the Travelers Championship in 2022 and finished in fourth place. He currently ranks third in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.