Competition in the course is nothing new. But when it’s about sibling rivalry, things get more chaotic and heated. No one knows it better than the Ryder Cup brothers, Rasmus and Nicolai Hojgaard. The twins, known for their competitive yet supportive relationship, nudge each other to be their best. However, as siblings go, the Hojgaard twins don’t back down from teasing each other either. In a recent interview, Nicolai Hojgaard shared their iconic bond, marked with witty remarks and a sibling code of conduct.

Alongside his brother Rasmus Hojgaard, Nicolai set the scene on the DP World Tour channel, “Our career’s always gone like this. One plays good one year, the other one comes back.” Rasmus was at the top of his game back in 2017, winning all four of his matches in the European Boys’ Team Championship. In contrast, Nicolai had a much more understated performance that year. Bouncing back in 2018, the script almost flipped. Nicolai found his groove on the greens while Rasmus fell behind. At the European Amateur Championship, Nicolai claimed the win at 7-under. That was also the year Nicolai found his first pro win while still an amateur.

Going into detail over his first pro win in 2018 at the Bravo Tours Open of the Nordic Golf League, Nicolai revealed Rasmus went salty over his success. Classic sibling behavior, Rasmus still found a way to tease Nicolai, like it was his duty as the twin. “I had the front seat and I just remember he said from the back seat… just remember Niko… oh I can’t… I can’t remember correctly what he said. What you said, but it was something to do with…I’m still on the throne kind of… I’m still sitting on the throne,” Nicolai shared, unraveling in a car ride following his win.

Rasmus’s teasing is a reminder of their unique twin dynamic. It serves to show that rivalry and camaraderie go hand-in-hand, especially when that comes with added sibling-mocking privilege. Quoting Rasmus, Nicolai added, “I’m the king of this car, you know. I don’t think you’re there yet just because you won this week.” Even Rasmus couldn’t help but chuckle at the remark, although he defended himself. “I don’t think that’s true though,” Rasmus interrupted.

Nicolai argued back, while also acknowledging the significance of their competitive back-and-forth. “It was very competitive but it’s also what drives us and probably what helped us a lot.” However, what caught attention was their mutual unspoken deal despite their constant fights and teasing. “We’ve been in a lot of fights but we also had one rule actually we probably never actually talked about but we’ve never hit each other in the faces before.” That earned a laugh from the host as he chipped, “Right. Because you’ve… both got beautiful faces from each other’s.”

Even though that might not have been true, this fact surprised Nicolai himself, who admitted, “It’s an unspoken rule. If one of us has never hit each other in the faces, which I find super impressive with what happened in the past.” Turns out, despite the Hojgaard’s constant cribbing, they radiate a rare bond only twins can pull off. That grounding relationship reflects in their chemistry on the greens.

The Hojgaard Twins’ On-Course Chemistry

Rasmus and Nicolai Hojgaard have an unparalleled bond. Fighting over who gets the front seat, the Hojgaard twins went on to compete against each other in golf tournaments. “Back when we were young, it was fun to have that pressure of trying to win the front seat,” Nicolai recalls. “Now we are trying to win our own golf tournaments and seeing each other win. So as much as I still want to beat Ras, I’m very happy if he wins.” This stands as a testimony to their supportive spirit despite their competitiveness.

The Hojgaard twins’ chemistry becomes even more apparent when they play on the same team or in the same tournament. Whether making history at the Open or representing Denmark in amateur competitions, the twins seamlessly balance rivalry with collaboration. The Hojgaard twins also competed together in the Masters this year. Nicolai explained, “We always dreamed of playing majors together; therefore, to become the first twins to play the Masters was very cool. We did our press conference together, and I tried to pass on any thoughts or experiences I had from my first time to Ras.”

Rasmus Hojgaard echoes the sentiment, remarking, “Having someone who can motivate you on a daily basis is a significant reason for our success.” Their shared understanding allows them to anticipate each other’s decisions on the course. That allows them to adjust strategies in real time and maintain focus under pressure. No wonder the twins are a uniquely effective duo. This combination of competitiveness and teamwork has paid dividends in team events like the Eisenhower Trophy, where the Hojgaard twins contributed significantly to bringing victory to the Danish team.