When Rory McIlroy said at the end of last year in Dubai that he would pay to play in the Ryder Cup, it felt as though he was speaking on behalf of the whole of Europe.
Since then, the decision to pay United States’ players has been ratified. The Europeans, meanwhile, will continue to play for honour rather than cold, hard cash when they attempt to defend the trophy at Bethpage in September.
If any poster boys were required for the McIlroy way of thinking, then Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard fit the bill. The latest dry run for the Ryder Cup - the Team Cup - takes place in Abu Dhabi this weekend. The Hojgaard twins will be lining up together for Continental Europe against Great Britain and Ireland.
It is the first time the 23-year-old brothers have been involved in partnership in team competition since their highly successful amateur days in Denmark.
Nicolai played in the first running of the event at the National Course two years ago, then went on to feature in the Europe side who won the biennial match against the US later that year.
He said his Ryder Cup debut in Rome in 2023 exceeded everything he dreamt it would be. The only thing that could improve it would be if brother Rasmus was alongside him.
It feels as though the day that happens might not be far away. Potentially, they could even be in harness as part of Luke Donald’s team later this year.
Growing up as aspiring golf pros, Nicolai said their first goal was always to win their home event in Denmark. After that, the dream quickly morphed into becoming Ryder Cup heroes.
“We have talked about it many times: imagine having a putt to win,” Nicolai said. “It doesn’t matter which occasion it is, but over the years it always turned into the Ryder Cup.
“We would imagine being out first in the foursomes and rolling in a putt when the crowd goes crazy. I tried that up close in Rome, and it is the best feeling in the world.
“To have the thought that we could potentially do that together in the future is enough to keep us fired up.”
Rasmus, for his part, had a close-up view of the action in Rome. He was not one of the 12 for the match, but was brought along to be part of the wider party. So as not to spend all his time gnawing his nails with nerves for his brother, he spent most of his time driving Thomas Bjorn’s buggy around the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club instead.
“It was very special,” Rasmus said. “Nicolai was playing in the afternoon on the Friday, and you are very nervous for him.
“Watching is a bit different, because you have 12 guys there who are playing. If Nicolai was trying to win a normal tournament, I would probably be more nervous seeing him play the last three or four holes than I was for him at the Ryder Cup.
“It was more about getting it under way that was the nervous part of it for me.”
The twins played in European Team Championships at boys and senior level for Denmark. The majority of competitive golf they played growing up was also as part of teams, rather than individually.
“There is a huge difference,” Rasmus said. “When you are part of a team, you don’t want to let anyone down.
“It is not like you are happy to let yourself down when you are playing on your own. But when you are in a team, you want to deliver points for them, to show some leadership by going out and doing my part to motivate the others in the team to go out and do their part.
“It is so different. You feel a bit more proud being part of a team.”
The brothers were speaking to The National via Zoom on Rasmus’s mobile phone, while sat in a golf buggy taking a break from a practice round in Dubai.
They will head to the capital for the Team Cup before driving back up the E11 next week for the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
Each will have designs on winning the Dallah Trophy at Emirates Golf Club, when the country’s longest established Tour event starts on January 16.
Nicolai, in particular, has form on the fairways of the UAE. Two of his three wins on the DP World Tour have come in this country: the 2022 RAK Championship, and the 2022 DP World Tour Championship.
“I do feel like I can challenge,” Nicolai said. “I really enjoy playing here. It is one of our favourite places to go to and the Desert Classic is one of the best events we play every year.
“It is also a course that suits us pretty well. I feel in a good spot at the moment and I am really looking forward to getting things started. I think I can challenge the guys at Emirates [Golf Club].”
Both know that McIlroy is unlikely to give up his title without a fight. The Northern Irishman is going for three in a row at the Classic.
McIlroy was the Hojgaards’ favourite player growing up. Nicolai says he remains so – all the more so having experienced his presence as a teammate at the Ryder Cup two years ago.
“Obviously he is a leader in the team room,” Nicolai said. “He is the best player, the guy who has achieved the most. He is very good with everyone. He doesn’t put himself in front of anyone. He doesn’t do anything that all the other guys don’t do.
“He is a very, very good teammate. That is the only way to describe him. He is a very, very good golfer, which helps because you know you are going to get points out of him. To have someone who is a very good guy, as well as an incredible teammate, is a very good mix.
“Having him in Rome was brilliant. He really excelled that week. It felt like he was a leader and he really enjoyed that.”
