THOR READY FOR BATTLE
Olesen has it off to a tee
ROOKIE Thorbjorn Olesen is steeling himself to face the most intimidating first tee in Ryder Cup history.
Olesen closed with a 67 at the Portugal Masters yesterday as England’s Tom Lewis secured a three-shot victory.
If Lewis was on cloud nine after his first win for seven years, the Dane also went on his way in good heart as he prepares to face a daunting challenge.
Le Golf National’s opening hole will be ringed by a 6,800 crowd – the largest at any Ryder Cup.
Previous debutants have struggled to place their ball on the peg because they are shaking so much. But the London-based star, who at No.44 is the lowest-ranked player on either side, intends to embrace the occasion.
“I’m going to be nervous – 100 per cent – but I’m nervous at a lot of tournaments on the first tee,” said Olesen, 28.
Sleeping
“It’s going to be a little bit different. There’s going to be a few more people around than normal but I enjoy feeling it in the stomach.
“Hopefully I will be able to stand up and enjoy the moment. I’m definitely excited but I’m sleeping just fine.”
Olesen, who finished 20th in his first event in three weeks since qualifying for the European team, arrived at the Algarve with a fever but will report fit and firing in Paris today after four days in the sun.
He said: “I feel a lot better after today, that’s for sure. I struggled a little bit for the first few days but I hit my irons a lot better today.
“I have been concentrating on playing here but tomorrow, when I get into the team room and see all the other guys, that is when it will hit me and I will realise what it is all about.”
Team-mate Sergio Garcia also travels with a spring in his step after his highest finish since March – seventh following a best-of-the-week 65.
He said: “I felt like I played quite nicely. I drove the ball well, I hit some really good iron shots and some nice putts. Unfortunately not many dropped but overall it was very positive and now we head on to Paris to try to win that cup back.”