Sunday of high-flying action at the Danish Golf Championship. Moving day has confirmed that there won’t be a Spanish victory this week in the DP World Tour. However, we have an exciting final day ahead. There’s a great duel in sight between Rasmus Hojgaard (-13) and Marcos Penge (-12), but behind them, there are countless battles beyond who will achieve victory.
Of course, the Ryder Cup is in the background. For instance, with a win, Rasmus would surpass Sepp Straka in the rankings, who is absent this week at the BMW Championship due to a family issue, and Tyrrell Hatton, who isn’t scoring in LIV Golf. This means he would have many chances to finish Sunday among the six who automatically qualify, although we would have to wait to see what Shane Lowry, Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland, and Matt Fitzpatrick do in the United States.
Penge is in a similar situation. Mathematically, he no longer has a chance to qualify directly for the Ryder Cup, but the Englishman knows that with two good performances in Denmark and next week at the British Masters, he could earn that last spot that seems to be up in the air in the European team. For now, winning would put him in the top 15. Anything among the top twelve after the British Masters would help his selection.
The reality is that both have shown this Saturday at the tough and demanding Fureso that they have composure, hunger, and determination. Each with their style has offered a fantastic show. Rasmus Hojgaard has opted for a more conservative plan, using more iron from the tee, avoiding problems, and seeking birdies only when the option was very clear. It could be said that he played with the cool head of a veteran, despite being only 24 years old. Then, when he got into trouble, like on the 18th, missing the tee shot to the left, he managed to come out unscathed by playing down the other fairway and saving a par of great value.
Penge, on the other hand, has relied on his power from the tee. He has taken out the driver whenever he could. Like on hole 10. 379 yards on the toughest hole of the year (and almost in history) of the DP World Tour. (Today, only one birdie was made there. Honours to the veteran Swede Bjorn Akesson. He holed it from the fringe). Penge has been more aggressive than Rasmus and has also been rewarded. He started two strokes behind and is now one stroke away. One step closer. It’s true that he flirted a bit with luck. He had good bounces and hit stratospheric shots, like the second on hole 17. From a position where a bogey was almost guaranteed, he created a magical birdie opportunity. By the way, another battle at play is securing the PGA Tour card for Penge…
Initially, the fight for victory is between two, barring a monumental surprise. But there are many other battles at play this Sunday. Ben Schmidt (-9), for example. The young 23-year-old Englishman could become the second player from the school to secure the card for next year. The first was Jacob Skov Olesen. It’s not a minor goal. Moreover, for Schmidt, who is far from the Ryder, this is crucial. A solo third would guarantee it. There’s a lot at stake tomorrow, as he won’t have many chances to play in the Back Nine due to his category unless he finishes very high tomorrow.
Of course, there’s the battle of Alfredo García Heredia (-5). Today he shot 71. Again, taking advantage of the front nine and struggling on the back nine, like almost everyone in Denmark this week. The Asturian is not going to win, nor even finish second, but he has the third position four strokes away. It’s far, but not impossible. Precisely a solo third would be the result that would currently put him provisionally among the top 113 of the Race to Dubai who will keep the card when the season ends. A lot at stake too, although Alfredo will be able to play all the Back Nine tournaments… or almost all.
The same can be said for Rafa Cabrera Bello (-2) and Sebas García Rodríguez (-2). The Canary Islander doesn’t need as much because he has done a good part of the work, but he still needs to finish the job to keep the card. Meanwhile, Sebas needs a Sunday similar to the Saturday Schmidt had (64 strokes, course record) to truly make the most of the week and get closer to the card cut line. Moreover, Sebas won’t have opportunities in the last tournaments of the year, beyond the Open de España.
Finally, the battle of Eugenio Chacarra (-3) is to finish as high as possible to continue fighting for the PGA Tour card. He has lost some momentum in recent weeks, but the goal is still within reach, and there are still many points at stake. He will play all the Back Nine with the category of a DP World Tour winner.
