Braden Thornberry had ever only one dream—to get into the PGA Tour. After years of resilience and practice in golf, he became a professional in 2018 and started playing for the Korn Ferry Tour, hoping to get closer to his dream. On October 6, 2024, he finally grabbed a win at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship, fulfilling his lifelong dream.

“I worked so hard to get here. A lot of stuff hasn’t quite gone my way over the past five years or so. To finally have something go my way and to play well at the right time is just amazing.” This was what the 27-year-old professional said after he made it.

He then obviously made it to the headlines with his exceptional performance throughout the rounds. Here’s all you need to know about the American professional golfer.

Braden Thornberry: The University of Mississippi alumni

Braden Thornberry was born on April 11, 1997, in Germantown, Tennessee. His mom and dad worked for competing courier services, UPS and FedEx. After completing his schooling in 2015, the Thornberrys moved to Mississippi. They presently live in Olive Branch.

He started attending the University of Mississippi, where he played with the Ole Miss Rebels men’s golf team. Thornberry was pretty much like a teenage boy in almost every aspect. When he was younger, much like the other boys of his age, he too loved riding dirt bikes. He was also inclined towards martial arts and dreamt of becoming a second-degree black belt holder.

His most distinct memory from the greens dates back to when he was eleven. He went to watch the 2008 US Open, and Tiger Woods putt to force a playoff against Rocco Mediate. Very soon, he too got interested in swings, and well, there was no turning back after that.

Braden Thornberry was ranked the No. 1 amateur golfer

Braden Thornberry had started competing way before he started playing collegiate golf. His first victory came at the 2011 Future Masters, followed by the 2012 Mississippi Junior and the 2013 Bubba Conlee National Junior.

In college, he was famous for his swing and had brought in several victories for the University of Mississippi. As a freshman, he grabbed two titles, which earned him the title of becoming the first-team All-American to do so.

Grabbing five wins in his first year, Thornberry also clinched the individual title of the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship, which earned him the Haskins Award. This is generally given to the best golfer in the college.

He made his first debut on the PGA Tour a year before turning pro at the 2017 FedEx St. Jude Classic, where he finished with the fourth position, making it the best amateur finish in the tournament. He grabbed a 3-over 73 in the opening round.

Although he made three bogeys and a double bogey, he did not show his frustration, showcasing his calm side. “When he’s at home he’s a lot more animated than he is on the course,” said Veronica Thornberry, Braden’s mother. “He tries to keep everything very even-keeled when he’s playing.”

He qualified for the 2018 US Open but could not make the most out of the opportunity as he missed the cut. However, he continued his exemption by turning pro the next year, qualifying for both majors.

Braden Thornberry enters the Korn Ferry Tour

Braden Thornberry earned a spot on the Korn Ferry Tour for 2019 after turning pro in December 2018. As a rookie, his best performance was at the Lincoln Land Championship, where he tied for the fifth position.

The next season brought him down to an eighth finish and a T5 at the MGM Resorts Championship. However, he could not grab a win as a professional. But in the 2024 season, that completely changed where he earned the trophy that was needed the most! Braden Thornberry is all set to begin his journey on the PGA Tour for the 2025 season.

Be it on the Korn Ferry Tour events or in his winning tournament, Thornberry has always had the support of his lady lake throughout his career.

Braden Thornberry’s lady luck

Braden Thornberry has been dating Grace McClanahan since 2022. She is a model and an actress. She often accompanies Thornberry to the golf tournaments. After his first professional victory, he shared a picture with her and wrote, “And a special shoutout to @dudeitsgrace for always believing in me and supporting me. Truly a team effort and couldn’t be happier with the person I get to share my life with.”

To that, she thanked him for letting her live the life of her dreams. From visiting their favorite game matches to going on vacations, the couple enjoys their time together. On November 21, 2023, Thornberry and McClanahan shared pictures of him proposing to her in the Garvan Woodland Gardens, and wrote, “forever.” However, there has been no news of their marriage yet.

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