Michael Thorbjornsen to miss U.S. Amateur, Walker Cup with back injury

One of the best amateurs in the world is done for the rest of the summer.

Stanford senior Michael Thorbjornsen announced Wednesday he was pulling out of the U.S. Amateur next week at Cherry Hills Country Club in Colorado and of the Walker Cup next month at St. Andrews due to a stress fracture in his back. In an Instagram post, Thorbjornsen, who’s second in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, said his medical team advised him to have a period of inactivity so his fracture can heal properly.

In the post, Thorbjornsen said he anticipates being back to full health in time for his senior season.

Thorbjornsen, who recently was ranked as the No. 1 player in the preseason PGA Tour U rankings for the Class of 2024, won the Pac-12 Championship as a junior and was named a Golfweek first-team All-American. He has qualified for the U.S. Open three times, including this summer at Los Angeles Country Club.

Last year at the U.S. Amateur, Thorbjornsen was one of four co-medalists.