Braden Thornberry’s first Korn Ferry Tour win came at the right time.
The 27-year-old pro birdied the 72nd hole in 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 win — his 104th career start at Korn Ferry — helped him secure his PGA Tour card for the first time in his career.
Thornberry entered the week ranked 51st on the Korn Ferry Tour points list, and with his win he became the only professional from outside the top 30 to move inside it (The top 30 were awarded PGA Tour cards for 2025), defeating 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 highest level. And he’ll do it with a slightly different approach than some of his peers.
Thornberry plays fast – like, really QUICK – and is more of a new, feel-first player, one who tries not to get too bogged down in analytics or wavering thoughts. He joined this week GOLF Subpar podcast to discuss his mindset.
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“A lot of times people are slow and I don’t even realize it until nine or something,” Thornberry said. “But the things that really appeal to me are like AimPoint on 2-leg and stuff – that always burns me up a bit. I’m just a feeling player, a reactive player. Everybody’s different, but I feel like that’s what golf is, and unfortunately I think over the last 10 years it’s become a little bit of a robot game, a math game, which works for some people, but I think some people might even do better on the PGA Tour if they were more emotion-based rather than more computer-inclined.”
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 in tour weeks, but would rather focus on a key area or area about a month in advance, then use the time until his next start to get everything in place.
“(Teachers are) on tour and everyone is so technical; it just turns the game into not a game anymore, almost like you’re trying to make everything so perfect and it’s never a lot of fun,” Thornberry said. “I’ve noticed that I play my best golf when I’m feeling good and having fun, even even when I play fast. I feel like when I play well I read the putt less and less. … I’ve seen guys with similar wind boards and stuff. It’s not that I don’t believe in it – I think it works for some people – but it’s just not my style.”
