Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard join George Harper Jr. on Life on Tour, presented by Buffalo Trace, to share their journey from growing up in Denmark to making their mark on the DP World Tour.
They dive into Nicolai’s Ryder Cup debut, his experiences competing on the PGA Tour, and the competitive drive that keeps them both pushing for more. Find out what it’s like for two brothers with such remarkably similar games chasing success at the very top level. Plus, the twins put their bond to the test in a challenge to see just how well they really know each other.
Chapters
02:00 On being a twin
05:10 Growing up in Denmark
12:22 Challenges of being twins
18:00 Goals for the future
24:10 Ryder Cup experience and hopes
28:30 Quickfire stats
35:03 Life on the PGA Tour
38:50 Career highlights
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[Music] There we go. Right, everyone good? Yeah. Right now we’re ready. [Music] It wasn’t just golf that we were competitive with. It was everything. Yeah. We got into a lot of fights over that. Yeah. Dating wise, we’re a little bit annoying. We didn’t try to spice it up a little bit when we I mean, it’s too late now. I mean, I got a good story actually. Um, throwing rats slightly under the bus here, but That’s true though. H, it’s very much true. No punching in the face. No punching in the face. Yeah. Yeah. Hasn’t happened yet. We’ll see. Sorry, guys. Uh, thanks for Thanks for tuning up, [Music] gentlemen. Uh firstly, welcome to the Life on Tour podcast courtesy of Buffalo Trace. It’s great to have you here and it’s a it’s a first for the podcast. Twins joining us. It’s great to have the brothers Nikolai Raasmus. Um how you been boys? What have you been up to? You’ve just arrived uh straight from Denmark. Yeah. Um thanks for having us on the podcast. Uh we just arrived from Denmark. Played on home soil last week. Um had a great week. Ras played well. Um but yeah, excited for to get going this week. How good is it to play with everyone at home uh just watching on and obviously enjoying afterwards as well? Yeah, it’s super it’s super special. It’s um it’s a it’s a stressful week cuz you know you got all the family and friends there. You want to see everyone, you want to go out for dinner with everyone and it’s uh yeah, you have to manage your time well. But uh yeah, it’s it’s one of the best weeks of the year. The crowds were amazing last week. Um, so yeah, it’s uh it’s always it’s always special to come back. So for everyone at home that might be tuning in, uh you you most often wear golf gear looking the same. You’re obviously identical twins. You guys, how do you guys know? How does everyone close to you know? What are the little ticks that gets everyone gets everyone close to you over the line? Because people watching will probably still have no idea. And I’m not sure how long you’re going to keep this keep this podcast going without us, you know, really having the insight. There is a or maybe that’s the whole hourong journey. We’re trying to make it difficult. Yeah. Change the hairstyles all the time. And uh yeah, there’s a common answer which is um the one who smiles the most is uh is me and the other one is Nikolai. So that’s, you know, that’s for everyone else to uh to decide, but uh we’ve heard that quite a few times. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with that. I mean, some people smile more and doesn’t mean I’m an angry person or a bad person. Um I’ve heard a couple times, but um there might be a way to to um to see who’s who, but there’s many ways to do it. I think we our shape fa our face is shaped a little bit different. Um, our swings are different. So, if you see it on the golf course, you should be able to tell the difference. Yeah. Um, when we play, you can always see who hits the furthest. You just see that I’m always ahead. And um, but no, there’s there’s a few different ways. It’s obviously difficult being identical twins, but um, I think there’s there’s another pair of identical twins out here that’s way tougher than us, and that’s the Paul brothers. Ah, right. I find that super difficult because they walk the same, talk the same, look the same. Um, so at least we a little bit different, ever so slightly. Who was born first? Surely surely one’s born before the other. I’m the older brother. The older brother. So, um, when he needs advice sometimes, he comes to me and ask a few questions. Um, couple minutes, a minute or two. Yeah. Which gets in handy at few times a year. Um, so yeah, the little flex. What are some of the the coolest parts about being a twin? I think um I think we there’s always someone there to spend time with. Yeah. I think we all know that we can get, you know, we’ll have times where we we alone for for most of the time. And it’s nice to have NA to go out practice with uh away from golf. You can you go for dinner. Um we’ve we’ve got to the point now with the last four or five years that we don’t share any hotel rooms or anything together cuz that’s that’s too much. So uh we need we need to have a little bit of time off from from each other. But it’s uh it’s nice to have someone to hang out with no matter where you where you are. Oh, it’s very very very cool indeed. And let’s let’s go back to I guess your childhood. Uh you’re from Denmark. How big was golf when you were growing up and and how special was I guess can you talk us through your family side of things as well and and your upbringing what it was like back in Denmark? I mean back when we started uh playing golf uh was back in around I think 2005 and um back then I mean I have no idea what golf was like back then. There was there was a very few uh guys on tour. obviously the the the great Dane being the front man leading the pack. Um but yeah, our dad brought us into golf when we were very young and that was one of his ways to spend time with us. He’s a pilot and he was working a lot. So, um very lucky that we we went to the driving range and came running back to our mom saying we hit it 50 m when we were four years old and that way we just got into it. Um and um we obviously did a lot of different sports, but over time golf was always a a thing and a summer sport for us. And uh now we’re sitting here doing a podcast. So yeah, it’s pretty fun to see how the journey’s been and um yeah, I think R can uh go a little bit uh deeper with um our upbringing. Perfect. Yeah, it’s saving me a job here. I love this. Some curve ball. No, it’s um I think I said we played a lot of different sports. We we always had golf as the summer sport and we played a lot of hand ball in the winter and because it was it was super important for us to have the team team sport and then obviously golf was a little bit more individual. Um and that you know when we got to about when we were teenagers maybe 13 14 years old we uh we had to decide which way we’re going to go. Um, and for me that was an easy decision. I broke my collarbone in a handball game and I thought this is not for me. No. Uh, so I quit handball and uh just started playing a lot of golf. Uh, Nick continued for a year or two and then he knew that golf was uh probably the better option as well. So that’s uh what we went with and uh yeah started to to to join the national team and then it developed from there. Brilliant. And your dad was a pilot. Did that have any influence? Uh did that sort of I don’t know like being so fidious and accurate as a pilot, you know, does any of that come through in the golf? I think sometimes it we can see we can see it growing up that we had that that was obviously very much on time and structured and and and disciplined and and we’ve had that even though at at times uh we can be a little late and uh it kind of hasn’t really uh gone 100% uh in our genes. But uh it was great to have him as a as a role model and and for him to to bring us to the golf course. Um, and to this day he’s very much involved. Um, but we can see some of his traits um, from back then. I understand it now. When you were younger, you you were probably pretty annoyed with your parents sometimes forcing you to do stuff and you want to do something else. But with older you get the more you actually look back and thinking, “Oh, there was actually a reason for it.” And we can all see it now. And and we’ve we I can say from my side and from my side, we we we think we got the best or the greatest parents in the world. And um uh so it’s it’s special to look back at those times now, especially when back then we just want to play computer and we want to do this and that, but he kind of he took the internet in the house and um forced us to pull us out of the our rooms and forced us to play golf and then now we’re here. So it’s it’s it’s fun looking back at those uh those times. Nice. Yeah, cuz like I personally reckon I’ve got a brother who’s a bit younger than me, but there’s so many brothers in sport around the world as well. Surely you guys being so close together that headbutting throughout all those different sports getting to that next level that drives you both to get slightly better and always competing, right? So that has to help in some way. 100%. It’s uh I think I can speak for both of us saying that if we weren’t uh you know twins, I don’t think any of us would would get to the level of golf that we we at the moment. Um cuz again we’ve spent so many hours practicing competing with each other and I think that’s definitely helped us. Uh and again it wasn’t just golf that we were competitive with. It was uh it was everything. It was it was from running who could run the fastest of the cars uh after you know went to the shopping mall or whatever. And yeah we got into a lot of fights over that but we all we always had a good role. Um, we probably mentioned that before as well, but when we started playing a lot of junior events, whoever played the best could sit at the front seat. Nice. And the other one could sit back back there and be super angry. Nice. So that’s uh Yeah, it’s fun to look back at. Um cuz that was that was the motivation to beat the other one the next time. Surely there was, you know, surely in your time there’s been some good scraps. you know, there’s got to be some good good hustling. I mean, I got a good story actually. Um, throwing Ras slightly under the bus here. But, um, our career’s always gone like this. One plays good one year, the other one comes back. And this is back in 2017. Ras had a really good 2016 and uh I didn’t play well in 16. And then I started playing better in 17. And I remember we were playing somewhere um in Denmark and uh I won that event and rest didn’t didn’t play particularly well. So I had the front seat and I just remember he said from the back seat just remember Niko um oh I can’t I can’t remember correctly what he said what you said but it was something to do with um you don’t I’m still I’m still on the throne kind of I’m still sitting on the throne. remember that kind of that was kind of his his his words to me but I’m the king of this car you know I don’t think you you’re you’re there yet just because you won this week and I was like okay I don’t I don’t think that’s true though it’s very much true I think we actually had a friend in the car as well who remember it but yeah fair enough it was very competitive but it’s also what drives us and probably what helped us a lot but yeah we’ve been in a lot of fights but we also had one rule actually we probably never actually talked about but we’ve never hit each other in the faces before Right. Because you’ve you both got beautiful faces from each other’s I don’t think that’s the that’s the reason. But it’s a unspoken rule. If one of us has never hit each other in the faces, which I find super impressive with what happened in the past. Yeah. Yeah. That’s very impressive. Yeah. It’s a good rule though. No touching of the hair or face. Exactly. It’s a good No punching in the face. No punching in the face. Yeah. Yeah. It hasn’t happened yet. We’ll see. Yeah. Maybe that, you know, that big charity boxing fight, you know, near the end of the It’ll be a great watch. Look, you, you know, we’ve heard all about the good things about being twins, but it can’t all be good. What are some of the most annoying parts or sometimes the really challenging parts about being a twin? Cuz I can imagine there’s some difficult times, too. Yeah. I think the first thing that pops in my mind is is that we are actually two separate Yeah. people. And that’s uh sometimes it’s easy just to uh do everything together or get asked to do everything together uh in instead of just like podcasting. Yeah, exactly. Sorry guys. Thanks. Thanks for tuning up. Exactly. Uh no, so I think that’s the that’s the main thing is that obviously when we were younger it was we never really thought about it. uh went to school together, but actually decided when in fifth or sixth grade to split up and go in two different classes. And I think that helped helped us a lot uh to sort of get two different personalities. Still very much the same group of friends, but at least uh we’re separate. And uh I’m I’m sure that helped a lot growing up. Uh but even to this day, you you still see you still see the the whole thing about the the twin story rather than that are two sep two separate careers as well. But it would always be there, but I won’t I won’t say it’s annoying. It’s just uh it’s just a what I think is uh a good example is last week when one of us is playing well, Raz was up there. The focus should be on him and because he’s up there playing well, it shouldn’t be a twin thing. And it was a little bit the start of the week where it was like you get asked about each other all the time and it’s like yeah but we actually starting the tournament now. We we it’s two different we’re trying to beat each other. We’re two separate careers, but it all happened with it was a product us two together and it and it it might be a a funny thing and a good product, but we also got to look different ways and our careers has taken I mean many different uh um ways to hear and um so as R said it’s not really annoying. be used to it and you get at some point you get used to it and it goes in here and goes out out of the other one and then um but there’s there’s way way more positives Yeah, for sure. than than there is negatives and I think that’s what we always focused on. You must have some interesting stories from getting mixed up or for that matter purposely tricking people in the past. Have you got any that come to mind? You know, I’m sure at school when you go on your first date, there might have been some confusion there. Uh the ladies not knowing who’s who. Uh there’s got to be a little slice of something. I mean, we definitely regret we didn’t I mean, school-wise, it’s a little bit boring, but yeah, dating wise, we’re a little bit annoying. We didn’t try to spice it up a little bit back when we I mean, it’s too late now, isn’t it? Yeah. We’re too deep into that stuff now that it can’t really happen. It’s It’s got to be very dark room if uh Yeah, that’ll that’ll be tragic. But um we tricked some school teachers in the past, but we never did enough of it. Two good boys from Denmark. We don’t do that stuff. So we we we we had to say we regret one thing is actually not doing it enough. Yeah. Do do more pranks. Yeah. Do more do more cuz there’s got to be a time where you’re like getting in trouble and you’ll just be like, “No, that that wasn’t me.” Oh, sure. Could do that with speeding tickets when they when they take take a picture of the guy and it goes, “No, that wasn’t me. That was What would you do to the teachers?” Cuz that’s quite an easy prank and they would they must get We just um we decided with a lot of our friends that now we’re going to switch classes and we knew the teachers were struggling. So, uh we decided to switch classes and obviously the teachers got a little hint that something was a bit odd. why is Nicholas so quiet today or or the other way around? Um but they never mentioned anything. So we sat there for an hour and a half and after and everyone in the class knew it. Everyone was just sitting not saying a word. Um and then after the class obviously the teacher found out and they were just laughing about it. So there that was a good thing about it. No one got really mad. Um so yeah that’s probably it sounds pretty boring to be honest. We didn’t do any anything crazy. Yeah. Yeah. And when And do you how often have you been actually paired together in a group? Because I remember a few years ago you were you were like if we get paired together, we’re going to wear the exact same golf outfit as well. First time was on the challenge tour in 2019 uh back in Denmark and then Dunhill links in 2022 I think. Yeah. And we play we had Saturday together at St. Andrew, same outfit. It was pretty special. It was pretty cool. And um randomly enough, this this year at Houston Open out of all weeks we got paired together. Uh thought that was a bit odd, but good fun. Um and we were super close on the final round at the Open this year. Raz made a silly bogan 18 in third round. If he made a par, we would have played together on the Sunday. So Oh, no. That would have been special. Yeah. So cool. But we are we still talking about we would love to have some Sunday battles at some point where we both play well and get headto-head. But um we haven’t done it yet. So um that’s on the that’s on the list going forward. That’s on the that’s on the bucket list. It is. Yeah. Yeah. For sure. Well, you’ve had like Eisenhower Trophy success if we go back to the amateur days, you know, first team first Danish team to win that. Like how much goals or how many goals do you have or are they all very individual? Obviously, as you said, separate careers, separate players. like how do you go forward together and create your own targets? Well, not together individually. Well, I I think we are very similar when it when it comes to that. Uh but again, I think it’s easy to sit there and say I want to win this and that or I want to achieve this. I think for us, we’re trying to chase the small wins uh on the way to the big success and uh that’s more daily goals or weekly goals. I think more than it is just having one big target at the end of the year or whatever. So for me that’s more motivating. You know, I can wake up and I can think I got to chase this. I got to work on this and then that makes me feel like I’m improving. Um I think you you’re similar in that way. Uh cuz then for me I feel like that if I do all the right things, good results will come. Yeah. Uh because it’s super hard to force it. It is and I think it’s so as you said super easy to sit here and say I want to do this and that. Everyone that tease it up every week has the same goal and you don’t have to talk about it to know. Yeah. But there’s more than just uh um trying to win a tournament. It’s all about there’s a long-term plan and then there is the plan you’re in the moment right now. And as you said I think if you only judge yourself on wins in this game it’s going to be a pretty tough career. Yeah it’s miserable stuff. So, uh, it is pretty if you think about it, actually, and there’s only a handful of players who’s had a like a a massive winning record. And, um, that’s probably not true. That’s that’s more than a handful, but you get what I mean. Um, so we’re trying to figure out what’s the mini what’s what what is a mini mini win at times. Yeah. And that is just doing your stuff, achieve a little drill you’re doing in in practice. It’s I have a goal of whatever it is the given week and and those win those mini wins leads to something bigger at some point. You never know when but you know if you achieve that then you know you’re staying in the moment and staying in the moment every day when you’re when you’re practicing and playing um increases your chances going forward. So that’s what we’re trying to do. Uh it sounds uh sounds easy. It’s pretty hard to do at times too. Yeah. But it’s like this is over a massive span as well. This isn’t just, you know, leading into a week. This is over years. And it’s like, yeah, it takes time, doesn’t it? It does. Yeah. Good things take time. Good things take time. Cuz I remember like I loved how you touched on that you’d have a good year, then you’d have a good year, and you’re almost a little bit out of sync at times with your careers, aren’t you? Cuz like um Raz, you got off to a hot start. third youngest winner in Maitius and then so you won 19 2021 and then Nico does that give you like I haven’t won here yet like 100% I mean he won three times before I even had a full tour card and it was like wow um but um weird things happened uh he won Switzerland got an invite the week after to Italy and I ended up winning that and we won backto-back weeks and uh that was super special and kind of kicked on from there. And um he’s still leading though with with wins. So I got to step up my game at some point. Um I feel like I’m trying hard, but uh not catching up yet. Um but yeah, it’s a it’s a good little battle of who who gets the most, but it’s not what it’s not what that’s not the most important thing. No. Um, again, two separate careers, but we’re still chasing the same goal and we still want to beat each other and have the most wins. So, there’s always a little battle. Well, that’s it’s it’s a great challenge to have because, you know, like you’ve got each other spuring you on, but like how special is it like for your parents or like for your family when either one of you wins because it’s pretty crazy and it’s pretty lucky position to be in where you’ve almost got a second horse in the race. 100%. I think it’s a lot easier for them now than it was 10 years ago. Yeah. Like that must be like who do they support? Yeah. Back I’m going to say back in the day. This sounds a little too long ago, but maybe 10 12 years ago it it must have been a nightmare for them to figure out cuz if when one of us played well and then the other one didn’t, do they walk up to the guy who’s not done well or do they walk up to the guy who’s done well? Um and how do they manage that we don’t get in a fight? And there’s so much stuff going on. Yeah. But I think they they did a fantastic job and I think to this day I think they’re very proud and they can see that we support each other uh a lot more now and can you know give each other credit when when it’s needed and I think that’s the you talk about uh parents and who they should support. So last week I was around 18th or 20th at some point in the event in the event. I was there actually around that number for a long time for at least two rounds and I I saw my mom walking in the crowds uh next just we walking up to a hole and I said really I mean why why are you out here watching me play golf? Yeah, like I’m in a irrelevant position compared to Ras. He’s leading the tournament. So, I mean, you should be out there following him like, you know, we get it. We both get it when someone is playing well, full focus on that person and get the most out of that position, right? And then accept this situation. Yeah. Um, and we had a few friends and a few spectators and I asked them, I mean, have you got us mixed up? Do you think I’m r out here? because they’re walking around because you should be out there watching the the leader of the tournament, but it it shows um what’s important for for them as well and and uh we really appreciate that and cuz like that’s you know like even if they were just coming for four or five holes that’s that’s a nice touch. It is you know it is golf a long day at the office. And then if you think about it like you know how intriguing if we move on to the RDER Cup in 23 you mentioned one of you’s got more um wins on tour and the other’s got more Ryder Cup appearances now. How unique was that Ryder Cup scenario because uh well it all came down to an injury in the hero challenge and it was quite a dramatic sort of turn of events wasn’t it? It was it started out um yeah at team cup January 23 where Ras was supposed to play on the team. I I didn’t get a pick to play and uh that was a for them it was an easy uh decision to put me in same size clothes and all that stuff. So all the all the small they they didn’t even change the picture as well. Uh same same small details was super easy. The game at that time but um I got in there played really well and I think that kickstarted my campaign to potentially get to get to Rome but I never had it on my mind to be to start the 23 season. Res had a great 22 and um yeah ended up getting a pick there and Ras was really close qualifying. Um, so yeah, Ryder Cup definitely definitely counts more than two wins I think. No comment. Um, but like that is crazy, right? You’ve got injured, your brother’s taken your spot, and then he’s cashed in on it and then and then you were at Rome helping out. What role did they give you there? Well, I was apart from number one fan, I was driving Thomas Bjon around in a bogie. Nice. uh making sure he had his uh coffee there all the time. So, no, it was it was uh it was pretty special to be there and see everything up close. Um yeah, it was um it’s nice to get a feel of what it’s like. Hopefully, I can uh I can be there soon and experience it as a player as well. But, uh yeah, it was uh it was nice to see Nikolai wearing the the uniform with the 11 other guys and and and cheering them on. Yeah. And uh things are obviously looking okay for you this season. Uh at what point do you start hoping start looking ahead? I know this week’s really important for you as well. Um how do you I guess manage expectations and and try and join your brother as a Rder Cup player. Yeah. Well, last week I got asked a lot of questions about it as well and and I was pretty clear on on the situation I was in. It’s uh if I play well, I’ll be in the conversation and if I don’t play well, I won’t be. So, yeah, it’s I’m pretty clear with with things. Um you know, if if I do well, I think there’s a chance. Uh but again, now last week was a good week and you know, I’m in a position where if I play well this week, there’s a good chance. So, yeah, it’s definitely on my mind. But uh yeah, I’ve got to I’ve got to zoom in on what’s important this week, and that is to uh play the best I can on this golf course, and then whatever happens happens. We probably glossed over last week a bit, but can you just briefly tell us about that eagle on the last? I know it didn’t come to fruition, but it was pretty pretty bloody cool if you ask me. Yeah, it’s um I obviously got into um a bad run of golf midway through the round and and Marco got a few shots clear. Uh we battle on the back nine and it was we didn’t make a lot of birdies but you know there was some hard fought pass out there and then obviously Marco birded 17. He got two clear and I knew I need an eagle on the last here but it obviously played very long. It was straight into the wind back flag and uh yeah I just I didn’t think too much about it to be honest. I thought if I could put a a driver in play in the fairway, I can at least get it up near the green and then maybe have some luck on my side and, you know, hit a hit a good drive, hit an a very good second shot, sitting up to, I don’t know, maybe 10 12 feet for Eagle and and hold the pot. So, at least that gave uh, you know, gave it a little bit more excitement for the finish there. And, uh, and then obviously credit to Marco for holding out that forefoot for Birdie to win. Yeah, fantastic. Right, boys. We’re going to play a little quiz. Pretty simple stuff. Just first in, best dressed. I want to see who’s quick to the mark. And uh we’ll do a little bit of golf statistics to start with and then we might get into some other stuff on the side. Uh so, who has got the most DP World Tour starts? Nikolai. Who’s got what? The most who’s played in the most DP World Tour events. I throw I throw R in there. I think it’s N 118 plays 114 in favor of Raz. Yeah. Nice. Okay. From all the time in the US, I think so. All right. Uh, most cuts made on the DP World Tour. Russ. Yeah, I think it’s me. Yeah, that’s you. Highest ever world ranking? Nicolite. Correct. What was that? 30th. Yeah. Nice. Redot. And 37th. So you mentioned you have off and on years. You your stats are amazingly close like over your career. It’s actually kind of scary. Um so yeah. So 30th and 37th. Uh best major finish. Well, it would be me recently. That’s Nikolai. T14 T16. Very similar. Uh, what have we got here? Um, percentage of cuts made on the PGA Tour. I reckon that’s very similar. That is it. I can’t stress how similar it is. Yeah. 62.5 plays 62.9% of cuts made. How crazy is that? Wow. Um, I’ll go with Rash because he’s played few fewer events. Nicolai. Oh, wow. Claim claim it. Okay. Uh, these and these are these next few stats are all PJ tour based. Average driving distance. Who’s the longest? Uh, I’m not. It’s going to be Russ. Oh, it is. Is it? Yeah. No, I think it’s you. No. 319. 318. Oh, I got him lately then. I think so because I’ve seen it that I Oh, you made a joke about it before, but now you’ve got the evidence. All right. Yeah. Full yard. That’s important. Quickest club head speed. Um, it’s very similar. It’s obviously from from from the course. So, yeah, he’s on the course. I I think Do you have that maybe? I think it’s Res. Yeah, Rez just to just to keep the close stats going. 124.35 12430. So like every stat like is no pun intended is identical. Uh driving accuracy I think I had more fail. Rasmus funnily enough. Yeah. He’s got the higher club head speed by a fraction but a better accuracy. Sorted out. Yeah. Uh, most Instagram followers. Three, two. I’m going to say correct. Very similar. 39,000 44,000. And then a tricky one to finish. Race to Dubai ranking and FedEx Cup ranking combined. Do you mean of all the years we played? No, just this year. So, who’s who’s got the best best rankings on the both tours combined? Um, so let’s say hypothetically if you’re 10 similar very similar. I think there’s only two between us or something like that. There it’s very similar. I think it’s Nikolai. No, I think it’s R. You guys are either being really nice or not backing yourself. Uh, it’s R by two spots. 122 on the rankings combined and 121. Every stat is insanely similar. Oh, so that’s pretty cool. I thought that was pretty cool. That is crazy. All right, now let’s get off golf a little bit here. These ones quick fire. We’ll whip through these. Um, who’s the best at sport outside of golf? Three, two, one. That’s fine. Who’s the best or worst cook? Who’s the best cook? I think they’re the same. I do. Yeah. No, I’ I’d say I’m the better cook. Yeah. Best dancer. best dancer. Uh, we’re very two very poorly danc [Music] most screen time on their phone. Who’s who’s on their phone the most? No question. That is a ridiculous reaction. That’s fair. Well, that’s maybe why reaction few followers, but you know. And then finally, who’s going to finish higher this week? And what’s the bet? I’m going to say uh myself. Yeah, good good call us. Uh I’ll say myself. I got to say myself. So, back myself. Do you ever put on little bits like apart from the back seat, front seat? No, we only we only bet with each other during practice rounds. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Usually who uh who pays for dinner? Nice. So, whoever finishes worse this week maybe has to like post a silly photo of their brother on Instagram saying how great they are and how much I love them. Good idea. Good idea. We’re happy with that. We uh the thing is when every time Negro loses a bet, he will always pay himself out of the bed. Another ridiculous statement. There’s a few statements that we’re going to have to look at. It’s uh that’s ridiculous. That is ridiculous. All right, so we’ve got that on record. An an Instagram for the for the loser. An embarrassing photo. the winner can find a embarrassing photo and they have to post it. Something spicy like that. All right. Um, fantastic. I thought that was a pretty good quiz. Chilled, relaxed, very good. I don’t know who won. Anyone know who won? It’s pretty even. Yeah, let’s just identical answers. Yeah. Uh, right. Well, let’s I guess let’s talk about We’ve touched on the DP World Tour wins and stuff, but how’s life in America? How crazy has that change been? You’ve grown up over here. You’ve done this journey and now you’re doing the other side of the pond together. How’s that been? What experience is it like? What’s tough about it? What’s great about it? Yeah, I think it’s been it’s been pretty cool. It’s uh obviously Nikolai has been a little bit of the guinea pig. He was out he was over there for a year by himself. Um and yeah, that that it probably prepared me a little bit for what to come. Um, yeah, we we this year we we had a house or had a place over there and and that just make life and and travel a lot easier, not having to travel back to Denmark every other week, uh, which Nicola did the first year. So, Oh, wow. That’s been one of the good things or the good decisions we’ve made to help ourselves and and trying to improve. Um, but yeah, it’s the golf over there is amazing. It’s it’s it’s where you want to play your golf. Uh, and again, I think that’s where you can become the best player you can be, cuz it just it seems like the golf demands a little bit more and then it’s a good way to test yourself. Yeah. Is it is it noticeably like harder or is that just the field that’s harder? Is the golf itself? I think uh you’re playing obviously you’re playing against the best players in the world, so you get a sense of what it takes to be one of them. Yeah. uh and beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat beat them as well but you see you see them up close and you see what you need to do and what they do really good and um you just got to get used to the golf courses a little bit, you know, you just play faster greens. Yeah. Uh sometimes maybe fairway is a little bit more premium when we play those courses and uh it’s not all just about hitting it a long way. Um but yeah, golf is there’s not that big of a difference. you just play against uh most weeks against the best players in the world. That requires more quality and as R said that pushes you to work harder and get better so you can so you can be one of them. Um but yeah, it’s it’s a learning process and we we we enjoy the challenge. Um we like playing there. We like the golf course. We like the golf and uh but we still love coming back to Europe. There’s nothing better than home and this tour uh uh helped us a lot when we started uh out as professionals. So, we love playing here and uh we will always um uh love playing here. But um yeah, I think if you want to become or achieve your goals, you you America is the place to play. Um, and also as as I said before that you compare yourself to the best players and and I think that’s really important to get to the next step because a lot of European players go there and struggle like being away from home or just like even off the course struggles with how I guess big America is and all the different just small nuances. Have you how have you guys found it off the course as well? That’s one of the positive positives of having a twin. Yeah, we’ve we’ve lived together over there. So, uh, yeah, we’ve we’ve actually had a quite a bit of fun, I’d say. Uh, en enjoyed the time. We’ve had friends and family come around whenever we’ve got time off. Uh, so I think we’ve made the most of it. Uh, it is still very much a learning process as well on how to spend the weeks and or days there, but uh, yeah, I think this year has been it’s been great for us. What are some of the career highlights? because obviously now with the co-sanctioned events, um I want to touch on Ireland, how amazing that was, beating Rory down the stretch. Uh that must be right up there with a career highlight for sure that was special. Um but again, it was one of those, you know, Sundays where I didn’t think I would get in the position of having a chance to win. So it all happened a bit quick there on the back nine and all of a sudden I was in the lead. Uh, so I didn’t really have much time to think about it, which was probably a good thing. Um, so yeah, that was that was special. Um, you know, those that half an hour or 40 minutes I was in the clubhouse waiting for it all to, you know, turn out to what? Yeah, it was it was um that was a long wait. It was stressful. Um, but yeah, it was definitely one of the highlights. What would be one of your highlights? highlight would be Rome 23. Yeah. Um but I think um Dubai 23 was the the final was really cool. But I think actually Olympics last year was super special. Um that was something that surprised me a lot and that was one of the best experience I’ve had on the golf course. But my highlight would be yeah Rome 23 I’d say. What were the celebrations like after that? Pretty good. The the bus ride back to the hotel was something that we still talk about to this day. Yeah, there’s so much footage of it now. The do is great. If you haven’t seen that, tune into it. Awesome. Um, but yeah, like that like that must have been so special being a part of a team environment and getting the chocolates and being able to celebrate with your mates. Exactly. Oh, it was super special. And it’s uh it’s guys you’ve looked up to your in your whole junior career and and suddenly you’re in a team and being around them having a common goal and um and then get it done on Sunday and celebrating together and then everyone went separate again. It was it was super interesting. And then you see the guys after. It was there’s a special bond uh between the guys and I’ve gotten some some great relationships out of it. And um yeah, when you’ve been there once, you want to you want to get there again? Cuz there’s is there quite a few players where you may have not spent any time with from that team and you’re like forced into a camp together and then it’s like right, let’s let’s do this. Yeah. I mean, they were really good at there was a we had a a team uh practice day Monday of Wentworth uh that year. We went to um we went to Rome and we had like an evening where we where we everyone opened up um with some personal stuff and it was very special and and quite emotional and you you get very emotional that week that you’re like it’s surprising but that just describes how special that week is and um yeah as I said when you’ve been there once you want to get there every time um it comes around. So um yeah it’s it doesn’t get any better. It it just it doesn’t get any better than that. Brilliant. And Raz, uh I guess what are you looking forward to the most about the end of this year and um trying to trying to put your best foot forward there? Good, good question. Um yeah, I I I actually very much looking forward to getting over to play fall series again in uh in America. I um yeah, I didn’t h I haven’t had the the best season. Uh so, you know, for me, it’s very important that I get over there and and try and perform well so I can have a season again next year on the PGA Tour. So, for me, that’s that’s my main focus for for the end for the end of the year. Um but yeah, I mean there’s certain things there, but you know, I played my first masters this year. Super super special. Yeah. How cool is that? Super cool. So, I want to get back into top 50 and get my spot for next year as well. So, there’s all these small things there that, you know, adds up. So, yeah, you know, I’m trying to I’ve seen some positives in my game over the last month and I just want to continue building on that and and see how far I can take it this year. How like how tough is it? Like obviously we see all the successes and all the great memories and stories and wins and however, but like how stressful can golf really be when like some years you are playing for your tour card and some years you are out of form? Like what’s it like when you do get into a little bit of a dark spot and you’re playing for your livelihood? Yeah, it’s it’s I I guess there’s times where golf just seems super super hard. Yeah. there’s just no matter how well I play, I can’t get a score together. And then there’s other times where you just you shoot five, six, seven under like that without without any problems. And it’s sometimes it’s hard to find the answers in the middle of it. Uh but that’s that’s where you got to have a good team around you uh to remind you of or giving you some perspective at times. And I think we’ve both got great teams that helps with that. Um to make sure that we keep working and building on the right on the right stuff and then get quicker out of the dark periods of of golf. Yeah. Thanks. I agree. I think it’s super important to have a great team around you. Um, I was just thinking that when R said it that um you put you you have them around you to obviously keep you on track, remind you of the stuff that’s important, but also you’re going to do some things that works for a period of time and then you keep doing it and it might not work, but you just got to accept that everyone’s going to get through. All professionals in this game, doesn’t matter if the best in the world, they’ve all had a period where they where everything seemed tough. Yeah. So for everyone out there, it’s it’s going to happen at some point and it’s good to know that the best players in the world have been there as well. Um, everyone is going to is going to have that journey of getting through that dark spot a little bit, but it’s part of it’s part of it and the best thing you can do is uh just keep keep working and and and yeah, have the right people around you. Nice. And then just finally, let’s visualize the three of us sitting here in 40 years time, maybe 30, having a nice Buffalo Trace. What would be a complete career for you guys? What do you need to tick off your list to look back on and go, “Hell yeah, I’ve had a I’ve had a pretty awesome career and I’m bloody bloody happy with it.” What would be what do you need to do that? talking about um goals because you obviously got to set the bar pretty high. Yeah. And um well, these might not even be goals. I think if I could in 30 years time or whenever we sit we sit here and talk about the stuff over the glass of a of a good whiskey. Um, I say I think for both of us, we would love to get to world number one. I think that’s the number one goal. I think that’s the ultimate thing in golf. Obviously, the ultimate thing is a career grand slam and we saw it this year. Yeah. I think world number one is not just one lucky week or two weeks where you play well. It’s over a career. It’s over a career. And a great example is Justin Rose. Yeah. you see he had a hard time and he started career and he kept working hard and he became world number one that for me is what describes uh exactly what it’s all about and I think that is the ultimate goal for me and uh because you know it’s it’s hard work over many many years so um if I just look at golf that would be the thing for me brilliant but then there’s loads of other things you would love to do you know eventually but to get to number one there’s there probably be couple of good results coming at the moment it seems pretty hard getting But there’s one guy making it pretty hard for everyone else. Raise up. Yeah, I I agree, you know, on just for the golf that that will be the ultimate goal. Um cuz again, it’s good golf for a long period of time. Uh so that’s that’s the that’s the big goal. Um, again, I would probably it’d be cool to to have either a son or a daughter that plays on tour as well. I think that’d be quite cool. Um, but again, yeah, there’s there’s many different things. Actually, this sounds a little bit deeper, but sitting looking back at every day there like you feel like there’s a purpose with what you’re doing. Like you don’t get into those spots where you feel like what’s the point of it all, but that there’s a purpose with everything you do. um I think can lead to a lot of great things. So um just a little side came from the side little curve ball. But I think I think yeah having a purpose with what you do is is super important and it makes it it makes sense like what you do every time you wake up and you got to do this and that. It all makes sense. Um but as R said it’ll be fun to have a have some kids who plays golf and whatever they do when we get to that point. How far away is that point? How is how’s everyone’s love life going? That is a good question. We’ll see. Yeah. Not right now. Just golf. We got a few years where we got to Well, we only four. Yeah. So, no no no rush, but a few years where we just get a little bit better and earn our right to to have a little bit more time off and can pick and choose a little bit more what we do. Yeah, I think that’s where you can start looking at um getting a family. Start family. Beautifully said. Do you have any of other brothers and sisters before I forget about them? An older brother. Yeah, an older brother. Oh, wow. Tough gig. So, older brother and then mom and dad. Five of you. Yeah. Nice. Oh, I I hope I hope they all enjoy this episode cuz we certainly have. I’m sure there’ll be many laughs around the dinner table. I’m sure to listen to it. Yeah, absolutely. And uh if when they are, I’d like to get some accurate answers on some of those quiz questions. Yeah, that’ be fun be fun to hear the those answers. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Uh boys, um yeah, once again, thank you very much for your time. It’s been great to follow your amazingly similar journey so far. Um so hopefully both keep trending in the same direction and uh yeah, we’ll keep a close eye on your voice. Thanks for having Thank you. Cheers. Brilliant. [Music] To watch another DP World Tour video, click here. And to subscribe, click here.
2 Comments
So nice to get this interview from Rasmus and Nicolai. Thank you
Nicolai is obviously the older brother!