DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

November 19, 2023

Nicolai Højgaard

Jumeirah Golf Estates, Earth Course

Press Conference

BRIONY CARLYON: Delighted to welcome our DP World Tour Championship Champion, Nicolai Hojgaard here to the Media Centre today.

Nicolai, incredible round of golf. Give us a sense of how proud you are to walk away with your first Rolex Series win and to end the season on a high?

NICOLAI HØJGAARD: Absolutely amazing. I didn't really think about what kind of tournament or what size or anything else. All week we focused, and to be sitting here now -- we talked about it early this year and this week, as well, really wanted to get a win. And to do that, we needed to put in a lot of work, and we put in a lot of work this year. I'm so proud of my team and everyone involved that did put in the work and I couldn't wish for better people to have around me. It feels amazing, closing out in style with family and friends.

BRIONY CARLYON: What's going through your mind when you're coming down the stretch of the closing holes here and the prospect of actually getting over the line?

NICOLAI HØJGAARD: After 16, I thought, we go to 17 now, tough par 3, and yesterday, I didn't play it particularly well. But I was in good form. I was on a run at the time, and I have confidence in my ability.

We got up there. I had a perfect number, perfect club, flight a 6-iron in there ended up being six feet I think. When that one dropped, I thought, it's in my own hands now. I can close it out on 18.

Obviously we saw what happened on 18. Wish I holed that putt. But really proud of how I handled the situation.

Q. A couple of questions, first, a big week for you, but also, a PGA TOUR card for your brother, Rasmus. How does that feel?

BRIONY CARLYON: I think it was -- coming in for the final card, I think it might not have updated until the end of the PGA TOUR's put on the last, so Rasmus has missed out on his card.

Q. So the Order of Merit, it's not been updated. Sorry. So I'll rephrase the question. How disappointing is that, because you said on Friday that would be the best thing if you both are on the PGA TOUR.

NICOLAI HØJGAARD: Yeah, seeing how it all turned out today, I really wanted him to get that card. He was in a great position. He's playing good golf. It came down to a crazy scenario, I think, in the end. You know, I feel sorry for Ras but he's going to bounce back. He always does. He's one of the best golfers I know and he's going to come back stronger afterwards.

Q. The fact that he was there in the recorder's desk with you, despite all that was going on, that must have been special, as well.

NICOLAI HØJGAARD: That shows our special bond, even though one of us is in a tough time, we always cheer for each other. The support we have towards each other; I know how he's feeling. We've probably had similar feelings when we go back, but having him there shows character and it shows that deep down, he's a great guy and absolutely love Ras. He's my best friend. So having him there was very special. I know how he's feeling, but he's going to come back.

Q. This golf course, must be loving it. Do you want to wrap it up and take it wherever you go?

NICOLAI HØJGAARD: Yeah, pretty good. I would say the whole week, the first two rounds, low scores were in the back of my mind. Didn't really get anything going yesterday which left me really frustrated. But today I bounced back in the back nine and played some really good golf when I had to if I wanted to win. Sometimes do you that, sometimes you don't. But today, yeah, it feels amazing when you're doing that.

Q. After that finish yesterday, what is it that you were thinking about when you came to the golf course this morning?

NICOLAI HØJGAARD: My only thought was to put some pressure on the guys out in front. It's tough. I mean, it's a golf course you can shoot a low score on but when you're fighting -- it's tough. If I get off to a hot start, they can probably watch the leaderboard and see those few guys out early making birdies. I got off to a good start today on the front nine and obviously left a few chances out there. Amazing feeling sitting here, playing some really good golf when I had to. It's hard to explain because it's something you dream about. You dream about coming down the back nine in a big tournament. Hit some good shots under pressure, and yeah, delighted to have done it.

Q. There were about 10, 15 players that were trying to fight for a PGA TOUR card. How was the atmosphere?

NICOLAI HØJGAARD: I don't really know how it was between the players. I know for my brother, he tried everything he had today.

From my side, I didn't think about that. I only focused on myself and my team and what we had to do today. I'm glad that I didn't have that on the line today because of extra pressure, so the only thing I had on my mind was to finish No. 1.

Yeah, I tried my best, and sitting here now is very, very special.

Q. What are your plans? Are you going to be based over there, come back and forth?

NICOLAI HØJGAARD: At the moment, that's something we have to figure out, the planning. There's a lot of things and it's something we needed to clear this week. We needed to finish this week first before we actually start going into the depth of what we'll deal with next week or next year.

We probably have to base ourselves over there. If you really want to compete against the best, I think you have to dedicate yourself and move base. But we'll see what's going to happen the next few weeks and months. Very excited going into.

THE WITNESS: 24. It's going to be an interesting year, and in a great position moving forward now.

Q. So you haven't decided yet?

NICOLAI HØJGAARD: I haven't decided fully what's going to happen, no. There's a few balls in the air. We don't know where we are going to start the season yet, and so there's a few balls in the air at the moment. But it's a luxury problem to have, and I cannot wait to go into more detail and put into the work to figure out what we are going to do from here.

Q. The predicted official World Ranking for you is No. 50. Is there any thought in your mind that you want to add any more events?

NICOLAI HØJGAARD: I'm done for the year now. It's been a long, driving range season but a very good one. To finish off like this, I think we can wrap it up now and reboot the whole team and make a big, strong plan for next year.

It puts me in a position where I'm 50, but hopefully I'll be 50 when the year ends. While it's not on my mind, if I play good golf, stuff like that will take care of itself. At the moment, I'm just very happy with what we've done this week. All the hours and effort everybody put in, and so hopefully I will be Top-50 when the year ends but we'll see.

Q. I saw Thomas in the scorer's tent hugging everybody. Thomas has been a standard bearer for your country. What does it mean for your confidence now with so many Danes now on the DP World Tour?

NICOLAI HØJGAARD: Yeah, Thomas is a very important person to me. We've got a great relationship. He's been a mentor to me and Rasmus, as well. Especially, he's coming in, showing his support to both of us, in different circumstances, of course.

He's an important guy for Danish golf. He's obviously the best there's ever been, and it takes a lot to beat him. But he's an important guy. Everybody looks up to him. He's got a lot of great stuff to share, and it's not only for me and Rasmus, but Thorbjørn, as well, and other new guys coming on the Tour. It's good to see some friends coming out on tour now. Danish golf is in a great position. I'm very proud of the system back in Denmark, and to see that it's going very well is something that means a lot to me, seeing great young golfers coming out.

BRIONY CARLYON: In this case lie, congratulations on your win once again, happy holidays.