Family comes first
Nicolai lifts title one week after his brother won
NICOLAI HOJGAARD made history by claiming the Italian Open a week after his twin brother Rasmus won on the European Tour – then showed his emotion by swearing on live TV.
The Dane conjured up a superb birdie on the 72nd to beat Tommy Fleetwood and Poland’s Adrian Meronk by a single stroke
After rolling in his winning three-foot putt, the 20-year-old embraced his twin on the final green after the unprecedented double glory.
The Danes become the first brothers to win back-to-back events on the European Tour after Rasmus won his third title at last week’s Omega European Masters in Switzerland.
Nicolai said: “It is crazy. It has been such a tough day. I have been through every f ***** g emotion in my body and brain, so to finish it off is perfect.
“It’s what I’ve dreamed of. It’s what I’ve been working hard on all year and all my life, so I’m really pleased with it.
“I was getting quite emotional when I holed that putt and looked over and could see Rasmus, his girlfriend and my girlfriend.
“It is has been a perfect week and to do it the week after Rasmus won, it is perfect.” Hojgaard, who only got the final invite to play last Monday, started the final round with a one-shot lead. He wobbled with bogeys at the 14th and 15th to stand on the 18th tee level on 12-under par with Fleetwood (71) and Meronk (66) before his stunning finish. He added: “I have been nervous many times before but nothing like this.
“I almost couldn’t move the putter. I was really nervous.
“You are trying to give yourself a chance to win and I gave myself a three-foot putt, which was perfect. I am really happy and I can’t wait to celebrate.”
Both Hojgaard brothers could be back at the Marco Simone Golf Club outside Rome in two years for the 2023 Ryder Cup.
Fleetwood, seeking a first win since 2019, had also birdied the 18th after finding water on 16.
The Ryder Cup star, who had qualified for this year’s showdown before this week’s final event at the BMW PGA, said: “I hit a couple of bad shots at the wrong time but overall felt I played well.
“Fair play to Nicolai. There’s something very special happening with those brothers and that’s going to be exciting in the future.”