Paul Kimmage: Once a team-mate of Rory McIlroy’s, the former ‘Norwegian Tiger’ finds himself on the outside looking in these days

Marius Thorp looked set for a stellar golf career until he fell out of love with the game

Marius Thorp of Norway acknowledges the crowd on the 18th green after winning the silver medal at the 2006 Open Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty

Paul Kimmage

For Marius Thorp, yesterday will be a day to tell the grandchildren about. The Norwegian, at 18 the youngest player at Hoylake, claimed the Silver Medal for the best-placed amateur when he posted his third sub-par round in four days, a 71, to finish level par for the tournament. What is more, he did so playing alongside one of the game’s greats, five-time winner Tom Watson, at 56 the oldest player in the field.

For Thorp, who will turn professional or head to college in the United States depending on how he performs at the European Tour Qualifying school this autumn, the experience proved overwhelming.