BETFRED BRITISH MASTERS HOSTED BY SIR NICK FALDO

June 28, 2023

Thorbjørn Olesen

The Belfry

Quick Quotes

Q. How is it to be back as defending champion?

THORBJØRN OLESEN: It was a very special week last year for me, winning, having my family here, the time it came, yeah, it all came together and yeah, a very special week that I'm going to remember for the rest of my life for sure.

Q. Have you watched that putt back over the last few days?

THORBJØRN OLESEN: I've seen it on social media a few times in the last few days. It was an unbelievable put, and on 17, to be honest. Great finish, both Saturday and Sunday was just, yeah, the way to win a golf tournament was nice.

Q. Starting the day with the lead and to then finish and win it like that, I guess you don't win like that much, that exhilaration must mean more when you hole a putt like that, do you remember how you felt when that one dropped?

THORBJØRN OLESEN: Yeah, it was a tough day for me. I didn't play well obviously and then felt that quite quickly during the round and just had to really dig deep to try and find a chance to have a chance to win.

Yeah, obviously the putt on 17 gave me so much adrenaline and give me belief that I still had a chance to actually win this golf tournament.

So yeah, when I saw that putt drop on 18, just all the emotion came out and all the fighting I've been through and all the practice and grind just came out in that moment I think.

Q. And to win at The Belfry, an iconic British venue, that must make it more special.

THORBJØRN OLESEN: Yeah, obviously it's a tournament I've dreamt of winning and the British Masters has a long history and a very special tournament. To be able to win that, and the crowd in the U.K. has always been unbelievable. To win was very special.

Q. How did things change for you after that? You've got the win, you back it up again with another victory this season, how do you feel about your game? You're back inside the world's Top-100 and things are going well for you.

THORBJØRN OLESEN: Yeah, I mean, I think after all those years, coming back and then winning gave me that confidence that I can still win. I think I knew I have it in me still, but you doubt yourself a lot during those times when you're not up there and you don't have a chance to win.

So to get over that line gave me of belief in myself again and that's been very important.

Q. Tell us more about that belief, how do you feel about your game now, as opposed to how you felt about it heading into last year?

THORBJØRN OLESEN: Yeah, I felt like I did some good work last year before it but you know, it's a different story to get over the line and win a golf tournament. You have to get up there a few times and feel the adrenaline and nervousness again.

So when you get over the line, it gives you that belief can that confidence going forward that you know that you can do it when you have a chance, and that's very important in this game to have that confidence because it's difficult when you get nervous and you get in those tough positions to get out of them and overcome them.

Q. This year, we have Sir Nick Faldo as the host, new long-term host. What does that mean for this tournament? Must mean it's going to go from strength-to-strength.

THORBJØRN OLESEN: Yeah, I'm sure it is. He's a legend of our sport and obviously Major Champion, world No. 1 and him putting his name here and helping this tournament is incredible for us, and like you said, I think it's only going to get better and better for every year he's helping this tournament.