Atop the Masters leaderboard you have a who’s who of golf royalty: World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, six-time PGA Tour winner Max Homa, Ryder Cup hero Ludvig Aberg.
Then there’s a relative unknown in Nicolai Hojgaard.
Just 23 years old and making his first Masters appearance, Hojgaard is looking to become the first Danish player to win the Masters. He sits two strokes back of DeChambeau, Homa and Scheffler in fourth place entering Saturday’s third round, and all the separates him from the green jacket are 36 holes of the best golf of his life.
Here’s everything to know about Hojgaard:
Who is Nicolai Hojgaard?
Nicolai Hojgaard watches his putt on the No. 5 green during the third round of the 2024 Masters Tournament. (Photo: Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Network)
Højgaard is a Danish professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour and European Tour.
He turned pro at 19 years old and, in 2021, won his first European Tour event at the DS Automobiles Italian Open, following his twin brother Rasmus’ win at the Omega European Masters to become the first brothers to win in back-to-back weeks on the European Tour.
Nicolai picked up his second European Tour victory in 2022 at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship and earned a spot on the European team in the 2023 Ryder Cup, where he went 0-2-1 in a 16.5-11.5 European win. Two months later, he won the DP World Tour Championship.
This is his first season on the PGA Tour
Nicolai Hojgaard plays his shot on the second hole during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course – South Course. Mandatory Credit: Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports
In 2024, he is playing his first full season on the PGA Tour and took second place at the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this year.
He has a twin
Nicolai Hojgaard (L) and Rasmus Hojgaard (R) of Denmark interact after finishing their round on the 18th green during Round Three of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on January 20, 2024 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Nicolai is 8 minutes older than brother Rasmus.
Nicolai Hojgaard Masters results, major tournament history
Nicolai Hojgaard consults with his caddie Christian Christensen
on the No. 16 green during the second round of the 2024 Masters Tournament. (Photo: Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Network)
Hojgaard has made six major championship appearances, but never the Masters. He has finished as high as a tie for 23rd, as well as a tie for 53rd, at the Open Championship and tied for 50th at the PGA Championship, along with missing two cuts.
Nicolai Hojgaard's career earnings
Nicolai Hojgaard of Denmark reacts after a putt on the 18th hole during the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course on March 08, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
Hojgaard has career earnings of $2,481,615 in PGA Tour-sponsored events, to his PGA Tour profile. His European Tour profile lists career earnings of more than 6.6 million Euro (just over $7 million by conversion).
