It was the summer of 2019 out at Pebble Beach Golf Links when Ted Thorbjornsen savored the joy of watching son Michael Thorbjornsen begin the U.S. Open with rounds of 71-73 and make the cut on the number.
The joy was matchless and no matter that Thorbjornsen – then a few months away from the start of his senior year at Wellesley High School – would go on to shoot 84-76 on the weekend, making it into the weekend was a huge accomplishment.
Fast forward three summers and standing in pulsating Monday sunshine at The Country Club in Brookline, Ted Thorbjornsen stood quietly to the side of a press interview and watched his son – now 20 and a sophomore at Stanford – answer questions about having qualified for his second U.S. Open. Play will not begin until Thursday, but no matter; Ted Thorbjornsen is overwhelmed by his son’s quick ascension.
Two beautiful father-son moments three years apart. But in between there have been zero face-to-face meetings. Their time together – be it as father-son or teacher-student – has been via Zoom.
