Hojgaards in it to twin it as Danish teens chase Ryder dream
THIS week, the European Tour has moved on to Celtic Manor where, in 2010, it seemed remarkable enough that two brothers — Francesco and Edoardo Molinari — should both play for Europe in the same Ryder Cup team. But how about identical twins achieving the feat? Meet Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard, two gifted 19-year-old Danes whose dream of playing together in the biennial competition one day is very much rooted in reality. In only his second tour event as a pro at the KLM Open last year, Nicolai came within a holed putt on the 18th of forcing a play-off against winner Sergio Garcia. Five months later, Rasmus became the first man born this century to win on either the European or PGA Tour with his victory in the Mauritius Open. ‘We’ve always had this ambition of travelling the world together, playing in the same tournaments and, of course, playing for Europe,’ said Rasmus, in a blog on the European Tour website. It’s Rasmus who has emerged from lockdown to take the tour by storm, finishing third, sixth and second in the first three events on the UK swing to earn himself a major championship debut at the US Open next month. But don’t be surprised if Nicolai, who finished 26th last week, comes up with something of his own. ‘There have been seasons where one of us has enjoyed a little more success but it has always evened itself out,’ added Rasmus. ‘When we were ten, we had almost the same handicap and it has been like that ever since.’ Nicolai said: ‘We are both competitive and we’ve always pushed one another. Even during lockdown, we were playing video games like Call of Duty against one another and there was always something riding on it.’
It was at the 2018 World Amateur Team Championship that the pair first made names for themselves. The event is usually the preserve of the United States and Denmark had never won it. With nine holes to play, the two nations were locked on the same score but, in the closest finish since 1968, the Hojgaards made eight birdies between them over the inward half to beat the Americans by one. Nicolai, who was the 2018 European Amateur Champion, shot 66 and Rasmus, 67. It earned them a spot at the junior Ryder Cup that year in Paris, where they played together in the foursomes, halving their match. They were spectators a few days later at the main event, where the European team was captained by Thomas Bjorn, undoubtedly golf’s greatest Dane. He’s walking from his home in London to Celtic Manor, not to watch Nicolai play — Rasmus is taking a well-earned breather — but to raise money for charity. It’s clear Bjorn gives them every chance of achieving their Ryder Cup dream. ‘Nicolai and Rasmus have serious talent,’ he said. ‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen two players this young with such belief, technique, physique and attitude. The next 25 years are going to be fun to watch.’