PGA Tour golfer, 24, praised heavily after "I didn't fail" comments in Phoenix

Michael Thorbjornsen was praised heavily by golf fans after he came agonisingly short of claiming his first PGA Tour title at the WM Phoenix Open. 

The 24-year-old was among a group of players that were firmly in contention to win the top prize of $1.7m at the people's open in Arizona on Sunday. 

Thorbjornsen even forged a one-shot lead over Hideki Matsuyama down the stretch after draining an eagle putt at TPC Scottsdale's 15th hole. 

But back-to-back bogeys at the 16th and 17th saw the American drop down the leaderboard and ultimately settle for a share of third place alongside Scottie Scheffler, Akshay Bhatia, Si Woo Kim and Nicolai Hojgaard. 

In-form Chris Gotterup claimed his fourth PGA Tour title and second win of the season after defeating Matsuyama in a sudden-death play-off. 

Thorbjornsen had every right to be furious at himself but he viewed the experience as a learning curve, telling reporters: "I don't think I failed out there. I'm just learning. 

"So, yeah, I put myself in that position. I was leading after what, 70 holes, 69 holes, whatever it was. I mean, we're inching our way closer and closer. It'll happen at some point."

A number of X users were quick to praise Thorbjornsen over how he handled the situation. 

"Great head on his shoulders," one X user said. "The wins are coming."

Another added: "Great attitude."

Watch his comments here:

Thorbjornsen's challenge started to unravel at the raucous par-three 16th. 

His tee shot flew the green and, from there, he couldn't scramble to save his par and was promptly booed off. 

His tee shot at the drivable par-four 17th also found the water and his race was run. 

"I'm not too sure what it was," Thorbjornsen said of his tee shot at the 16th. 

"I want to say adrenaline. Playing that hole is tough enough, and then doing it well early in the tournament makes it even tougher.

"But I hit a really good shot. It was just left of the pin. JJ [Jakovac, his caddie] and I were both a little shocked that it flew pin high. Obviously we were trying to land it 12, 13 yards short.

"Just, yeah, probably hit the wrong club or hit it too hard or adrenaline. Whatever it was, we'll figure it out and be okay."

Thorbjornsen is in the field for the first signature event of the season in California. 

Rory McIlroy and Scheffler headline the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. 

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