Rasmus Højgaard admits “it’s up to me” to realise his goal of playing at this year’s Ryder Cup as the qualification process for Team Europe reaches its penultimate event with the D+D Real Czech Masters.
With just next week’s Omega European Masters – an event the Dane won in 2021 – to come before the six automatic qualifiers are confirmed, Højgaard knows time is running out for him to impress.
Despite claiming his fourth DP World Tour title on home soil last month, the 22-year-old finds himself lying eighth on the European Points List with Robert MacIntyre occupying the third and final automatic spot from that method.
Yannik Paul, Adrian Meronk and Victor Perez, who all lie ahead of Højgaard in the European Points List, are also competing at Albatross Golf Resort this week.
With European Captain Luke Donald is in the field on the outskirts of Prague, Højgaard knows it is crunch time if he is to make his debut in the biennial match play contest against the U.S. Team at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Italy next month.
“I would say I think more about the Ryder Cup off the golf course than I do on the golf course,” he said.
“I know the situation and I have to play very good golf the next couple of weeks – there’s not much [more] to say about it.
“There is some pressure there, but I don’t think that much about it. It’s a goal of mine and I really want to be in Rome. But it’s up to me over the next couple of weeks.
“I haven’t spoken to Luke since we haven’t played any tournaments. Last time I saw him was in Scotland or at The Open, it was just brief.
“There are a lot of players fighting for the last few spots [on both the European Points List and World Points List.”
Højgaard, who is joined in the field this week by his brother Nicolai, is making his debut at the D+D REAL Czech Masters as he makes his first start since The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool.. Both brothers are teeing up alongside Ryder Cup Vice-Captains for the first two days of the tournament, Rasmus with Edoardo Molinari and Nicolai with Francesco Molinari.
“It’s my first time here playing this golf course,” he said. “I played nine holes yesterday and nine holes today. It’s soft, but the course is in really good shape. I’m looking forward to it.
“If it’s playing soft, if you can hit the driver straight out there you can give yourself a few shorts irons and wedges into the greens. If you can keep it straight off the tee with a bit of distance, you’ll have an advantage this week.
“My game is decent at the moment. I’m trying to get into the competitive mode again. The last couple of days there have been some funny shots out on the course, but I’m looking to clear that up for Thursday.”
