Danish golfing twins Rasmus and Nicolai Højgaard, 20, made history at the end of the summer by winning back-to-back European Tour victories.
First, Rasmus won the Omega European Masters in Switzerland on August 29 – his third European Tour victory since turning professional. And then a week later, Nicolai won the DS Automobiles Italian Open.
It was the first time that twins have ever won back-to-back tournaments on the tour. With that kind of family symmetry, it’s a wonder punters did not bet on them to win again and make use of a Unibet Bonus.
Fleetwood’s a fan
It made the golfing word sit up and take notice.
Tommy Fleetwood, who as the world number 40 stands 55 and 125 places above Rasmus and Nicolai in the rankings, was impressed after losing out in Italy by a shot to a nerveless final-hole birdie.
“Fair play to Nicolai,” he told the BBC. “There’s obviously something very special happening with these brothers and that’s going to be exciting in the future.”
Fresh blood needed
Ryder Cup veteran Fleetwood very possibly has Guidonia Montecelio in 2023 on his mind as Europe looks to regroup from its dismantling by a much younger US team in Whistling Straits in September.
The home side will be looking for fresh blood to join the likes of Fleetwood, current world number one John Rahm and Rory McIlroy, the only other European in the top ten, to reclaim the trophy.
And the bookmakers seem to think the brothers have a fair chance of qualifying.
Good bet to qualify
Rasmus is rated the 21st most likely player to make the team sheet in 2023.
He is just 7/2 to qualify and should he continue the form shown in 2021, which has seen him win three tournaments, that price looks like a snip.
Nicolai is meanwhile the 38th most likely player to make it. At odds of 10/1, he may be a dark horse, but the man most likely to be European captain, Lee Westwood, will remember the sibling wow factor of 2010.
In the Molinaris’ footsteps
On that occasion, captain Colin Montgomerie opted to play two brothers, Italy’s Francesco and Edoardo Molinari, giving a wildcard to the latter.
Their inclusion brought an undeniable wow factor to the proceedings, and Europe went on to reclaim the cup with a one-point victory.
While Francesco and Edoardo are in contention to qualify again themselves (3/1 and 12/1 respectively), the events of this summer suggest a new brotherly ball of fire is in line to write some more European golfing history.
