Rasmus Højgaard continued his love affair with The Belfry as he made a strong start in his quest to secure Ryder Cup qualification at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo.
The Dane is the only player who can overtake Shane Lowry and clinch the sixth and final automatic spot as this week marks the climax of the qualification process for Team Europe.
After just falling short of sealing the deal on home soil at the Danish Golf Championship at the weekend, Højgaard needs to finish in a two-way tie for 29th or better to secure a Ryder Cup debut at Bethpage, New York.
With all the scrutiny surrounding him, the five-time DP World Tour winner was pleased to open with a three-under-par 69 at a venue where he has tasted victory at before in the ISPS HANDA UK Championship in 2020 and finished third in this event last year.
“I feel like it's a solid round of golf,” said Højgaard of his opening round which featured four birdies and a lone bogey at the fifth to leave himself inside the top ten in the early stages.
“Didn't cause myself too much trouble. Yeah, it's nice to shoot 69.
“I get reminded of it [the Ryder Cup permutation] every day at the moment.
“You can't just forget about it. I try to focus on what can I do to try and put myself in position to have a chance of winning this golf tournament, and that's taking it hole-by-hole and do my best.
“If it happens, it would be great, but I don't try and put too much energy into it.”
Playing alongside Højgaard over the opening two rounds of the Back 9 event on the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai is fellow Ryder Cup hopeful Matt Fitzpatrick.
The Englishman, who won his first title as a professional at this event in 2015, mixed seven birdies with two bogeys in a five under 67 to sit one off the early clubhouse lead held by South Africa’s Thomas Aiken.
Making his first start in this event since 2018, Fitzpatrick returns to home soil in good form after a summer that has featured back-to-back top five finishes at the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open Championship last month.
While he is unable to qualify automatically, the World Number 35 is hoping to reaffirm why he should be in Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup team next month via a Captain's Pick.
“This week is another opportunity to play well,” said the 2022 U.S. Open champion.
“That is why I am here. To get off to a good start is always nice and hopefully I’ll kick on.
“It means the world to be a part of it. Outside of winning a Major, it is normally the first thing on a goal sheet at the start of a Ryder Cup year.
“We have got a great opportunity to do something we have not done in a while and obviously to be a part of that would be special.”
