Great Dane has done his time
OLESEN EYES MAJOR HONOURS Four-under 67 gives him a share of the lead with Kevin Kisner.
Thorbjorn Olesen has managed some solid efforts in Major championships, but the Dane finally feels prepared to challenge for greatness and perhaps win this week at the PGA Championship.
Olesen fired a four-under-par 67 in Thursday’s opening round at Quail Hollow to share the lead with Kevin Kisner after 18 holes in the year’s final Major tournament, thanks to a 27-foot birdie putt on the closing hole.
While he has two top-10 Major showings, a share of sixth in his 2013 Masters debut and of ninth at the 2012 British Open, Olesen says this is the moment that finally feels right.
“I’ve had a couple of top-10s. I’ve had some good rounds in Majors and I feel like I’ve learned a lot over the years,” Olesen said.
“I feel like I’m better prepared to be in contention over the weekend and have a chance to win.”
Olesen was a contender for the Claret Jug in 2012 at Royal Lytham, sharing fourth at the Open after a second-round 66, but weekend rounds of 71 and 74 dropped him back.
At the end of the 2012 season, Olesen cracked the world top-50 in the last spot, but it was enough to book his first Masters appearance the following April.
Augusta National humbled him with a first-round 78, but Olesen responded with the best score of any player over the last three rounds, shooting a 70 and two 68s.
“I feel more confident with myself and my game than I probably did a few years ago,” Olesen said. “So obviously a lot of things can happen. I just have to stay relaxed the next few days, still try to keep the ball in the fairway, and then I know I can hit it close and make some birdies.”
He won’t make many like the stunner at 18 that lifted him into a share of the lead with Kisner, who also closed with a birdie.
“It was a little bit of a safe shot to the green,” Olesen said. “When you play safe into the greens here, you give yourself tricky putts, like the one I had, downhill, left-toright. It was very fast. But it was just a very good roll.
“I’ve been putting well the whole round. Had a couple of good chances and missed but felt like I was rolling the ball very well. So it was nice to see that one drop.”
A key to Olesen’s showing was improved driving that began last week in Akron at the World Golf Championships tune-up event for the PGA, where he closed 67-65.
After winning his fourth European Tour title last year in Turkey, Olesen has had two top-five finishes this season, sharing fourth at the Nordea Masters and third at the French Open. – AFP