The PGA Tour is just hours away from crowning its next champion at the 3M Open, and Thorbjorn Olesen is positioned to grab it in style.
The Danish man closed his Saturday round with a 4-under 67, sharing the lead with Akshay Bhatia at 18-under-par through 54 holes.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MAY 16: Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark hits a tee shot on the 12th hole during the second round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 16, 2025…
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MAY 16: Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark hits a tee shot on the 12th hole during the second round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 16, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
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For Olesen, the PGA Tour has always been a stage of inspiration. When asked to name the most iconic winning moment he’s ever seen, he didn’t hesitate.
“It’s got to be Tiger (Woods) somewhere,” he told the interviewer after his semi-final round. “Probably the Masters would be the one I remember the best, but the first one (1997) I remember and most exciting one.”
Back in 1997, Woods won his first Masters jacket at just 21 with an 18-under-par. The golf legend left the field behind, marching to a 12-stroke win and rewriting history, becoming the youngest Masters champion and the first player of Asian or African heritage to wear the green jacket.
Now the 35-year-old pro is chasing a moment of his own at the 3M Open.
Thorbjorn Olesen eyes first PGA Tour win with an ace
On Saturday, Olesen delivered one of the most electric moments of the weekend with a stunning hole-in-one on the par-3 8th hole at TPC Twin Cities.
When asked about it, Olesen explained how there was uncertainty between using a seven- and six-iron.
“It was a back pin. It just felt like I couldn’t get there with a 7 so we went for a soft 6-iron,” he told the reporter in his post-round press conference. “Obviously took the slope perfectly, a big bonus to see it go in. But yeah, it’s been a long time since I’ve had one so it was nice, it was nice.”
This was the Danish pro’s third career hole-in-one, but his first on PGA Tour.
“I think this is probably the best one because it’s been so long since I’ve had one,” he expressed during the same conference. “The two on the DP World Tour, and this is my first on the PGA TOUR. Yeah, I would say this one is the best.”
Olesen turned pro in 2008, and while he’s racked up eight wins on the DP World Tour, including the 2022 British Masters and 2023 Thailand Classic, he’s never won on American soil.
If the 35-year-old pulls off the final round on Sunday, he’ll become the first Dane to win on the PGA Tour, and according to tournament officials, the 10,000th different winner in PGA Tour history.
“It’s going to be exciting,” Olesen said as quoted. “I’m happy to be in this position going into tomorrow. It’s going to take a lot, there’s a lot of guys up there. I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of birdies. It will be difficult for sure.”
“It (winning) would mean a lot,” he added further. “Winning is what we’re trying to do every week. You know, obviously I haven’t won over here, but yeah, it’s a great opportunity and I’m going to try my best for sure. We’ll see, we’ll see what happens.”
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