Rasmus and Nicolai Højgaard are both viewing the upcoming double-header of Australia-based events on the new 2023 DP World Tour schedule as an ideal opportunity to test their games in unfamiliar surroundings.
The Danish twins, who made history last year as the first brothers to win consecutive DP World Tour events, have made the journey to Brisbane to compete in this week’s Fortinet Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club.
Three-time DP World Tour winner Rasmus is making his first ever appearance in Australia and arrives on the back of finishing in a tie for seventh in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship last week.
Both he and two-time winner Nicolai will then make the trip to Melbourne for the ISPS HANDA Australian Open next week, with the opportunity to show their talent in a different location.
“Well, I’ve never been to Australia before, so I thought this is probably the perfect time to go. The season just finished and it’s nice to get a couple of events in before Christmas.
“I thought I wanted to have a look what Australia is like. I’ve heard they have some really good golf courses here, so that’s sort of the reason behind it.”
Both players have publicly voiced their ambition of representing Europe together at the Ryder Cup, with Marco Simone Golf & Country Club playing host next September.
Their remarkable achievements so far have prompted discussion regarding them possibly becoming the first set of brothers to play in the biennial contest since Francesco and Edoardo Molinari in 2010.
But with ten months to go in the Qualification Process, Rasmus is eager not to put unnecessary focus on a potential Ryder Cup debut in Rome.
“It’s a big goal for me, but it’s not something I think of every day,” said the World Number 104, who is currently in the top six on the European Points list.
“That might change the closer we get to it, but again, everyone is talking about it…
“I have it in the back of my mind, but it’s so far out now. I can’t start thinking about that now, that I want to get on that team.”
World Number Nicolai 132, who missed out on the 2022 season finale in Dubai, does have experience of playing in Australia from when he featured in the 2019 edition of the Australian PGA Championship.
On that occasion, he missed the cut at RACV Royal Pines Resort, but the 21-year-old is excited to see how he fares this time around.
“For me, I’m starting to play a little bit better and there’s a few things in my game I’m working on and I want to test that in play and I feel like it was just the right time to do it, and I really enjoyed Australia last time I was here,” he said.
“Also, the course is different. If you look at the layout and the way the course is playing, it’s just so different compared to Europe.
“I feel like you need to have way more patience and discipline when you play courses like this and I think that’s a very important thing to test yourself sometimes.
“These next two weeks will be really great for that.”
