The Højgaard twins: Mistaken id and making historical past

Muricas News  — 

When Nicolai Højgaard touched down in Rome for the Italian Open final September, he discovered himself mobbed by followers congratulating him on his victory on the European Masters in Switzerland every week prior.

A flurry of high-fives and fist-bumps painted a healthful scene, but there was one small downside with the image: Nicolai had by no means gained on the DP World Tour.

In reality, after taking a while off, he had not even performed the occasion at Crans-sur-Sierre the previous week. His brother Rasmus had although, and performed very nicely certainly, securing a one-shot victory.

Welcome to life on Tour because the similar Højgaard twins, the 21-year-old rising stars of Danish golf.

“Not many individuals can inform us aside, so most likely 50 folks got here as much as him … that was powerful on him,” Rasmus informed Muricas News’s Jasmine Saunders, AKA The Jazzy Golfer.

Days later, congratulations as soon as once more poured in for Nicolai, however this time there was no case of mistaken id.

Enjoying by way of a last-minute invite to the occasion, a one-stroke triumph at Marco Simone Golf Membership secured him his maiden European Tour win and wrote the Højgaard title into the historical past books as the primary brothers to win back-to-back Tour occasions.

“It’s fairly superb that we didn’t discover it immediately till we truly bought requested questions on it,” Nicolai mentioned of the feat.

“It’s a particular achievement and hopefully we will do it once more sooner or later.”

Did the fist-bump fiasco gentle a fireplace beneath Nicolai forward of the match? His twin, who completed 18th in Rome, actually thinks it did.

“100%, I might use it as gasoline as nicely,” Rasmus mentioned.

“I believe he was positively motivated, he actually wished to get that win … then we bought to share that collectively.”

With Rasmus already having two Tour wins beneath his belt, on the Mauritius Open and UK Championship, Nicolai had the added motivation of creating up floor on his twin.

Whereas Rasmus was clinching his second win in August 2020, Nicolai was enduring a tough marketing campaign that noticed him end no increased than sixteenth all season.

Capturing his second Tour title on the UAE’s Ras al Khaimah Championship in February, Nicolai nonetheless trails Rasmus by one win however, extremely, sits only a single world rating place above his brother at No. 119. The duo are the 2 highest ranked Danish golfers, with Marcus Helligkilde and Thorbjorn Olesen the one different compatriots contained in the top-200.

“He bought them [wins] fairly quick and we’ve had some good competitors happening, so it was good to get a pair again on him,” Nicolai mentioned.

But whereas they share a wholesome rivalry, it’s the emotional help that varieties the center of the duo’s touring relationship. Whether or not it’s having a observe accomplice or just having somebody to go to dinner with, the Højgaards are profiting from their closeness.

“We clearly knew sooner or later we’re going to go in several methods however in the mean time we’re nonetheless on the identical path so we will journey collectively,” Rasmus mentioned.

“We share one another’s expertise from successful and difficult moments. I realized lots from Nicolai as a result of he was struggling fairly a bit in 2020 whereas I used to be taking part in excellent. I knew that was powerful on him, however he bought previous that and we’ve spoken lots about it.

“There’s positively numerous issues I can take from that, and it’s good to share all the nice and difficult moments collectively.”

With 4 occasions to play till November’s season closing Tour Championship in Dubai, Nicolai is looking for to hitch his twin on three wins, whereas Rasmus hopes to show the shape wanted to safe certainly one of 10 PGA Tour playing cards up for grabs subsequent 12 months.

But each siblings are united in a standard aim: to play the 2023 Ryder Cup.

After being postponed two years in the past as a result of pandemic, the enduring biennial competitors returns subsequent September at a venue very fond to at least one Højgaard twin, Rome’s Marco Simone membership.

And with Danish golfing icon Thomas Bjørn, a 15-time European Tour champion, vice-captaining Crew Europe, the twins are itching to make the 12-player workforce. Six gamers robotically qualify by way of a rating factors system, with the remaining half picked by captain Luke Donald.

“There’s an extended strategy to go and there’s numerous golf to be performed, so it’s simple to get too far forward (however) there’s numerous work to be finished,” Nicolai mentioned.

“I believe I’ve bought an excellent probability if I preserve specializing in the suitable issues and do the suitable work, so it’s positively a giant aim of mine.”

“Particularly having Thomas as a vice-captain,” Rasmus added. “Nic and I've an excellent relationship with him, he clearly needs us on the workforce as nicely.

“That may be a cool expertise to share with Nicolai as nicely, perhaps play a foursome collectively.”