Nicolai Højgaard is relishing the chance to defend his title at this week’s Ras Al Khaimah Championship, with the Danish sensation headlining a star-studded subject of Rolex Collection winners, former Ryder Cup captains and a Main champion at Al Hamra Golf Membership from February 2-5.
The 21-year-old stormed to victory ultimately season’s event, successful by 4 strokes from Jordan Smith as he carded a 4 below par ultimate spherical 68 on the Peter Harradine-designed format.
“It was a particular week final 12 months and I’m actually trying ahead to getting again on the market,” mentioned Højgaard. “From after we first bought to Al Hamra, because the week advanced, I began taking part in some good golf and my driving was in all probability what made the principle distinction that week. On the important thing holes I drove it rather well. In case you drive it nicely right here you may get a pleasant lengthy carry which is certainly a bonus. It gained’t shock me if a protracted hitter wins the occasion this week.”
The 2023 Ras Al Khaimah Championship will mark the second time Højgaard has focused the defence of a title after ending in share of twenty seventh ultimately 12 months’s Italian Open, a 12 months after claiming his maiden DP World Tour title at Marco Simone Golf & Nation Membership – this 12 months’s Ryder Cup host venue.
“Once I returned to defend my title in Italy it was fairly cool,” he mentioned. “I went on the market figuring out I had already performed nicely on the course and that confirmed in my recreation for a lot of the week, so I don’t assume there may be extra stress as such. You get good recollections each time you’re on a sure tee field or hitting an strategy shot as you recognize you’ve been on this place earlier than and executed it nicely. It’s completely different returning to a course the place you’ve gained however in a cool method.”
Victor Perez, winner of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, and two-time DP World Tour winner Adrian Meronk will be part of Højgaard on the fruits of the Desert Swing, together with former Ryder Cup captains Thomas Bjørn and Padraig Harrington, who has additionally gained three Main Championships.
In the meantime, George Coetzee bought his week off to the proper begin with victory within the floodlit Monday night Professional-Am alongside Smbat Pogosyan, Stamen Stantchev and Salekh Al Aroud, with the foursome ending on 16 below par. Richie Ramsay led his staff of Will Kent, Claudine Foong and Gurbax Singh to second, whereas Oliver Wilson’s staff, consisting of Harry Grimshaw, Jon Turner and Mohamed Suleiman, got here third.
Followers are invited to register without spending a dime tickets to the event right here.
