LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Michael Thorbjornsen sank a 26-foot putt on the final green to secure his first PGA Tour victory at the Rocket Classic on Sunday, pulling clear of a crowded field including Xander Schauffele to win by two shots.

American Thorbjornsen, 24, started the final day in Detroit four shots off the lead, but made a string of birdies on the back nine for a day's-best round of seven-under par 63 as those around him spurned chances.

"I don't know how to feel right now. It was such a battle out there, playing with some great players. Everyone, I feel like, was in the mix after nine holes," Thorbjornsen said.

"Just really happy I stuck to the process, committed to hitting certain shots, and just very, very happy with how I played."

Having reached the turn two behind co-leader Schauffele, Thorbjornsen birdied 10 with a pinpoint wedge, chipped in from the rough on 12, and birdied 14 after a fine pitch to within inches of the hole.

His tee shot on par-three 15 set up a tap-in birdie. But he saved the best for last, with a superb long right-to-left putt that curled in on the final green to seal the tournament.

Thorbjornsen finished on 18-under 262, followed by Schauffele on 16-under with a highly respectable final round of 65.

The two-time major winner and Olympic gold medalist had surged early on Sunday but left several putts short down the closing stretch, including an eagle chance on 14 that would have restored his lead.

Overnight leader Davis Riley had an up-and-down final round, recovering from three bogeys on the front nine to climb back within a shot of Thorbjornsen before bogeying 17.

He finished third on 15-under, with Denmark's Rasmus Hojgaard -- who had tied the course record with a 61 on Saturday — fourth on 14-under.

Despite his final-hole heroics, it was ultimately comfortable for Thorbjornsen in his first PGA Tour win after having twice finished as runner-up since turning pro in June 2024.

The former college star at Stanford University had also come close to winning the Travelers Championship as an amateur in 2022.

"I feel like I've been out here for a few years now. You just have to block it all out," he told CBS Sports.

"Junior golf to amateur golf, amateur golf to professional golf, they're completely different stages, and it's going to take some time to get used to playing where you're playing at."

Unlike last year's inaugural edition at The Country Club in Santa Rosa, Laguna, where North enjoyed familiar surroundings en route to a convincing 26 1/2–21 1/2 triumph, this year's title defense comes on South territory, where the hosts are expected to capitalize on their greater knowledge of the course.

For Anciano, however, local familiarity can only go so far.

"Not being familiar with Pueblo de Oro is our biggest challenge," Anciano said. "But golf comes down to execution. To win, we have to start strong, adapt quickly to the layout, and finish strong on every single hole."

North's dominant victory a year ago was built on a blistering start. The defending champions swept the opening Four-ball session, 8-4, before edging South, 6 1/2–5 1/2, in the Foursomes to establish a commanding lead. They then held their nerve in the Singles, winning 11 of the 24 matches while halving two others to complete a decisive championship run.

Replicating that performance away from home will demand another complete team effort.

Anciano believes every point will matter across the boys' and girls' divisions in the 7-10, 11-14 and 15-18 age groups, stressing that no single category can be expected to carry the team.

"Since we aren't as familiar with the course layout, we can't rely on just one section," he said.

"For us to win, we have to play complete golf from start to finish. Our advantage comes from setting the tone early on the front nine and having the grit to close out strong on the back."

The three-day showdown opens with Four-ball matches, where each player plays his or her own ball and the lowest score from each side wins the hole. Day Two features the alternate-shot format before the tournament culminates with the decisive Singles matches on the final day.

Organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., the tournament also serves as a World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR)-counting event, bringing together the top 48 junior golfers from the six-leg Luzon (North) and Visayas-Mindanao (South) series in a battle for regional supremacy.

Although South appears to hold the advantage of home-course familiarity, North believes its greatest strengths lie elsewhere – in its preparation, shared experience and unwavering belief in one another.

"Preparation has been great. Most of our players just got back from the US, but we've managed to sneak in group practices whenever we can," Anciano said.

"The good thing is these guys have played together for years. Even though they compete against each other individually, the friendship and camaraderie are really strong. We're locked in and ready."

For Team North, defending the title won't simply be about matching last year's dominant performance. It will be about proving that championship golf is defined not by familiarity with the course, but by the ability to adjust, trust one another and deliver when every hole – and every point – matters most.