Rasmus Højgaard became the final player to qualify automatically for the European Ryder Cup Team after finishing in a tie for 13th at the 2025 Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo.
With this week marking the climax of the qualification process for Team Europe, Dane Højgaard knew he needed to finish in a two-way tie for 29th or better at The Belfry Hotel & Resort to overtake Shane Lowry and earn his place in the biennial showpiece at Bethpage, New York.
He comfortably made the cut after posting rounds of 69 and 71 on Thursday and Friday respectively before producing another 69 on Moving Day to head into the final round in a strong position to achieve his goal.
And despite a wobble in the middle part of his fourth round, he finished the job on Sunday, signing for a closing 71 to finish on eight under par and ensure he will follow in the footsteps of his twin brother Nicolai, who was part of Luke Donald's victorious European Team at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club two years ago.
After making a hat-trick of birdies early in his final round to ease the pressure, bogeys on the fifth and eighth stalled his momentum and he looked in danger of dropping another stroke at the ninth.
But the 24-year-old produced a strong shot-of-the-day contender as he chipped in from a tricky spot for a bonus birdie.
And even though he made bogeys on the tenth and 12th, he birdied the long 15th and parred his way home to join Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Tyrrell Hatton in the Team. The rest of the side will be confirmed when Donald names his six Captain’s Picks on September 1.
Speaking after Sunday's final round, Højgaard said: "I don't know what to feel right now. I've been so stressed out on the course today.
"I was telling Tom, my caddie, out there 'I don't know how I'm going to be able to do this'. I managed to make a good four at the end there.
"So I'm over the moon right now.
"I knew every bogey out there was very costly. I was well aware of the situation and to be honest there were a couple of times out there where I really had to calm myself down and not let it spin out of control.
"That birdie on the 15th calmed my nerves a little bit but obviously I put pressure on myself on the 16th again.
"I felt like every hole was just a tough battle. And I'm so happy to be there now."
Speaking about the prospect of Nicolai being one of Donald's picks and playing with his brother at the Ryder Cup, he added: "It's probably the biggest goal we have together. If it would happen this year it would be amazing.
"But I'm sure we will both fight to be able to do it another time if it didn't happen."
A look at Højgaard's journey from Eisenhower Trophy winner to Ryder Cup player
Højgaard announced himself on the international stage as a 17-year-old in 2018 when he won the Eisenhower Trophy for Denmark alongside twin Nicolai and John Axelsen, and played with his brother at the Junior Ryder Cup.
He turned professional the following year and gained his DP World Tour card for the 2020 season at Qualifying School.
It did not take him long to make his mark on Tour, securing his maiden win in December 2019 at the AFRASIA BANK Mauritius Open aged just 18 years and 271 days.
Further success soon followed as Højgaard became a two-time winner in his rookie season at the ISPS HANDA UK Championship, emerging triumphant from a play-off for a second time.
Højgaard claimed his third title at the age of 20 at the 2021 Omega European Masters after coming through the field in the final round to clinch a one-shot victory.
And although almost two years passed before win number four arrived as he struggled with shoulder and rib injuries, it was well worth the wait.
He tasted victory on home soil in the summer of 2023, becoming the first Danish winner at the Made in HimmerLand after coming through a six-hole play-off.
But that season would end in disappointment as he fell just short of joining Nicolai in earning PGA TOUR status for 2024, finishing one place outside the top ten players who were not already exempt on the final Race to Dubai Rankings.
He put that right the following year, though, winning the Amgen Irish Open by one shot ahead of home hero Rory McIlroy on his way to earning a PGA TOUR card for the 2025 campaign.
And after another impressive year on Tour in 2025, in which he finished second at the Danish Golf Championship earlier in August, he can now call himself a Ryder Cup player.
