2018 Eisenhower Trophy in Ireland. The winning Danish team: Torben Nyehuus (captain), John Axelsen, Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard
Højgaard first came to prominence in July 2016 when he won the Danish International Amateur Championship, was part of the Danish team that finished third in the European Boys' Team Championship and won the McGregor Trophy in successive weeks.[2] In 2017 Højgaard received further recognition at the boys level by representing Continental Europe in the Jacques Léglise Trophy. He was also part of the Danish team that won the 2017 European Boys Team Championship, beating the hosts Spain in the final.[3]
Early in 2018 Højgaard played for Europe in the Bonallack Trophy against Asia/Pacific. In June he won the individual competition for the boys Toyota Junior Golf World Cup, four strokes ahead of his brother Nicolai.[4] Denmark also won the team competition.[5] In September he was part of the Danish team that won the 2018 Eisenhower Trophy for the first time and he played for Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup later in the month.
Professional career
Højgaard turned professional at the start of 2019. After playing some tournaments on the Nordic Golf League he played on the Challenge Tour for the rest of the season. He was one of five runners-up in his first Challenge Tour event, the Challenge de España. Although he had a number of further top-10 finishes, he finished 21st in the Order of Merit, missing out on a place on the 2020 European Tour. However he finished tied for 5th place in the Q School later in 2019 to gain a place on the tour.[6][7]
Højgaard was the first player born in the 2000s to win on the European Tour. He won in only his fifth European Tour start and became the third youngest winner in Tour history (18 years, 271 days), behind Matteo Manassero (17 years, 188 days) and Danny Lee (18 years, 213 days).
In August 2020, Højgaard won the ISPS Handa UK Championship in a playoff over Justin Walters for his second European Tour win. He became the second youngest player to achieve multiple wins on the Tour, after Matteo Manassero.[9] He also claimed the UK Swing Order of Merit, a mini order of merit awarded during the six events played in the UK during the European Tour's return to golf after the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.[10]
In August 2021, Højgaard won the Omega European Masters in Switzerland. He shot a final-round 63 to post −13 and the clubhouse lead. Bernd Wiesberger who was leading by one shot at the time, double-bogeyed the final hole to finish one behind Højgaard.[11]
In July 2023, Højgaard won the Made in HimmerLand event in Denmark. He shot a final-round 64 and beat Nacho Elvira in a six-hole sudden-death playoff.[12]
In September 2024, Højgaard won the Amgen Irish Open for his fifth European Tour victory. Højgaard became the youngest player since José María Olazábal in 1989 to collect five wins on the European Tour.[13]
Personal life
Højgaard's twin brother Nicolai is a professional golfer and was also part of the Danish team that won the 2018 Eisenhower Trophy.[14] They became the first brothers to win in back-to-back weeks on the European Tour in 2021.[15]
Amateur wins
2015 Aon Junior Tour Drenge 1
2016 Danish International Amateur Championship, McGregor Trophy, DGU Elite Tour III Drenge
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