Michael Thorbjornsen has made his mark with a rarely seen technique in professional golf. At the 2026 Rocket Classic, he fired a 7-under 63 in the final round to beat Xander Schauffele by two strokes and claim his first PGA Tour title. Thorbjornsen's success came with the 10-finger grip, a method that stands out from the interlocking or overlapping styles most Tour players use.
A Grip That Feels Right
Thorbjornsen has used the 10-finger grip since he began playing. He said other styles like the overlap and interlock felt unnatural, hurting his ability to control the club. "I've had a 10-finger grip my whole life," he said in an interview, explaining how the grip offers comfort and confidence on the course. His hands are placed on the club in the same way a baseball bat is held, which many junior players find natural at first.
The 24-year-old Stanford alumnus acknowledges that his grip draws attention. "People do find it strange," he said. But after hitting the ball consistently well, his grip rarely raises doubts about his swing. Some golfers worry that the 10-finger style limits control over the club face, but Thorbjornsen’s performance at the Rocket Classic silenced those concerns.
The Grip in Practice
The 10-finger grip gives some players an extra edge through leverage and club speed. That can mean more power from the swing, which helps on longer shots. However, the lack of hand connection in the grip can create uncertainty for others who rely more on precision and feel. For Thorbjornsen, the grip is a strength, not a weakness.
He isn’t the first golfer to use this grip, but he’s among the few. Bob Estes and Scott Piercy have also competed at high levels with the baseball-style grip. Thorbjornsen’s recent victory shows that a player’s swing can still succeed with a non-traditional hand position. His breakthrough has earned him a 40th-place ranking in the world, up from 68th, and a 38th position in the FedExCup Race.
Thorbjornsen’s 2026 season has been a steady climb. After turning pro in 2024, he steadily moved into contention, finishing T3 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and T7 at the Genesis Scottish Open. But it was the Rocket Classic where he finally secured the win, proving that his unique grip can deliver success on the PGA Tour.
Finding comfort and confidence is key for Thorbjornsen. His victory shows that there is no one-size-fits-all grip in golf. Every swing is unique, and the best results come from a technique that feels right to the player. As his performance at the Rocket Classic demonstrates, Thorbjornsen has found his way to win, and his grip is now being watched more closely across the Tour.