THE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

June 21, 2024

Jacob Skov Olesen

Quick Quotes

Q. Battle of attrition, but you must be delighted to get to your first -- Denmark's first Amateur final?

JACOB SKOV OLESEN: Yeah, I didn't even know that, definitely. It was fun. It was tough. I enjoyed, the wind kind of calmed down and we had a little rain, I like that a little more. It was really hard to control the shots this morning.

But it was tough still. Keeping everything dry and trying to keep up with the pace, not fall too far behind but you also want to be committed and make sure everything is correct and be dry when you know there's a lot at stake.

Q. This is your debut in The Amateur, isn't it?

JACOB SKOV OLESEN: I've never played it. I've been in America for five years in college, and in summers, I've played some of the Amateur events over there whilst this one goes on.

But I'm done over there now. So decided I want to play this, obviously.

Q. Transitioning over from the more pleasant climes of America, you're obviously used to some rough weather in Denmark, but you've adapted well?

JACOB SKOV OLESEN: Oh, yeah, that's kind of been on my mind. I haven't played in these conditions since probably the Irish Amateur in 2017 at Royal County Down, which is kind of the same weather like this.

But yeah, it's just, if you hit good shots and you do well, then conditions don't really matter. You've just got to stay focused and stay calm and just be ready for whatever comes. I guess the final stretch is what comes for me pretty well.

Q. A couple of key moments. There was that up-and-down on 6.

JACOB SKOV OLESEN: Yeah, long, long put there.

Q. These are big moments, aren't they?

JACOB SKOV OLESEN: Yeah, definitely around the turn was big momentum putts and kind of winds to get up after nine. And it was nice to roll in a couple long putts. I haven't really rolled in anything long all week and all of a sudden three massive ones in four holes. And then, yeah, that was really nice, and they were really good putts.

Thought I was just going to keep making everything, and then back to reality on 10 and 11 real quick. I was really annoyed walking down 12 after not at least getting one of them just to kind of break -- to make a hole. Then all of a sudden, tied after 14, you feel like momentum is switching back but I took it back.

Q. Great way to finish. He struggled up 17th. Didn't ask for much more than hitting the flag with your approach.

JACOB SKOV OLESEN: Yeah, it was a pretty good number because the wind switched a little bit into. I felt like it was going to be a bad number because I thought it was a little down. It switched a little too, so I could kind of hit the 50 a little more full. I was just trying to put it 12 feet right of the pin and kind of make a par and it almost went in I guess.

Q. There's still a lot of golf to be played but I mean, the Amateur title and all that that brings, the prestige, plus the small matter of maybe an Open and a Masters. Do we start kind of dreaming about that tonight?

JACOB SKOV OLESEN: I don't know, might just be me, maybe everyone else is, but once you reach match play, you already start thinking that, start dreaming that; now I have a chance.

It's going to be on my mind but I think it's going to be on everyone's mind. So I think it's just natural. Kind of of accept that that's what you start thinking about and still just play golf and play the man and see what happens, I guess. Just play better than the opponent.

Q. Denmark have had some great names in golf, some trailblazers; the Højgaard twins, do you have some idols in Danish off that you've looked up to, Thomas and Søren and all these guys?

JACOB SKOV OLESEN: I think growing up, I didn't watch much golf. But I've always thought that Thorbjørn Olesen, cool, and also his real name, Jacob Olesen is the exact same name as me. So that's kind of cool.

And Rasmus and Nicolai coming out have been great. I got to watch to watch Nicolai play at the Colonial Challenge. I was down visiting one of my friends in Fort Worth, which was cool. Yeah, what they have done is super impressive. You kind of just have to tip your hat for doing that at that young of an age when they broke out. You obviously look up to them, even though they are younger than me.

Q. Never reached an Amateur final.

JACOB SKOV OLESEN: (Laughs).

Q. Who is caddying for you?

JACOB SKOV OLESEN: Jamie Nielsen, he played the tournament as well. He lost in the first round of match play and he's caddied ever since.

Q. And you were friends before?

JACOB SKOV OLESEN: Yeah, we've been friends for a long time. We travelled over here together, as well. Plane trip. Travelled over here.

Q. Do you have anyone out to watch and cheer you on tomorrow? Have you got any family here or friends?

JACOB SKOV OLESEN: No. It will just be me and Jamie, I would imagine. I don't think anyone can catch a flight over here at this hour. It's pretty far up.

But I mean, it's likely on TV.

Q. Are Mum and Dad watching live on R&A TV?

JACOB SKOV OLESEN: My brother has been watching all day. He has not gotten much work done, he told me, but I think that's fair enough. I think his boss is okay with that.

Q. Will you be talking to them tonight ahead of tomorrow or are you just staying in the zone?

JACOB SKOV OLESEN: I'll be texting with them like I always do. My phone's probably blown up from them already when I'm done.

But no, we never really talk on the phone. I always just text unless it's something important, because then I can do something else.

Q. I know that Nick mention the at the start of the interview, being the first Danish player to reach the final of The Amateur, but can you explain to us a little bit about what that maybe means to you and a bit of pride that comes in with that?

JACOB SKOV OLESEN: Yeah, I didn't even know that. So I haven't even had a chance to think about it. But yeah, that is pretty cool. I was thinking a little bit if someone has ever gotten really far in this tournament.

But no, that's obviously cool. I guess it's something I'll always have. So yeah, now it's time to be the first winner, first Danish winner.