THE 153RD OPEN

July 18, 2025

Rasmus Hojgaard

Mixed Zone

Q. How was it?

RASMUS HOJGAARD: It was good. I enjoyed it. I played well for most of the round. A few frustrating bogeys on the back nine, but I got a bit of luck coming back on 18.

Q. What was that putt like coming in?

RASMUS HOJGAARD: It was one of them where I would have taken a two-putt all day. The last six feet of the putt probably broke three feet. So a bit of luck on my side.

Q. Did you see a good performance coming this week? Did you know you were going to play well?

RASMUS HOJGAARD: Not really, to be fair. I haven't shown the best form so far this summer. Yeah, I've tried to stay patient and work on my things. So far this week it's been in a place where I can manage it.

Q. What's been the difference?

RASMUS HOJGAARD: That's a good question. I don't know. Last week was very -- it seems like everything was off, and this week I've sort of managed that my tee shot has been better apart from one drive today. So I've put myself in better position off the tee. That sort of takes a little bit of pressure off the round.

Q. What's the challenge of driving it here? It feels like it can get awkward in spots with some of the doglegs or where the bunkers are positioned.

RASMUS HOJGAARD: I don't hit a lot of drivers out here, to be fair. I've hit a lot of 2-irons and 3-woods. That's sort of been my game plan. There's certain holes where I see a different shot than probably some others do. But there's certain holes where you have to hit driver. That's just how the course is designed. I think you've got a lot of different options out there.

Q. How are you scoring that in your mind? We just talked to Keegan. You hit a bunch of drivers; he doesn't want 5-iron, 6-iron in the holes. How are you, knowing if you're going to lay up you're going to have a longer club in?

RASMUS HOJGAARD: There's not many holes where you're going to have a lot of 5-irons in. 11 is one of them, but I've just accepted that I could have a 5-iron in there. If you hit the green on that hole, it's a good shot regardless.

There's a few holes, obviously 14 I could get a driver down there, be more aggressive, but again, I know I can put the 2-iron in play and try to hit an 8-iron into the green, which is not getting anywhere.

Q. Have you played this course before this week?

RASMUS HOJGAARD: I played it back in 2018, played a junior tournament here.

Q. Did you play well?

RASMUS HOJGAARD: Yes and no. I can't remember.

Q. Does it feel like County Down to you at all, or are they very different courses?

RASMUS HOJGAARD: They're very different, but links golf is still the same. You can hit a lot of good shots out there and finish 30, 40 feet from the hole. I'm just trying not to let that affect my game plan too much and be over aggressive.

Q. Are you rooting for or against your brother now that you're both kind of in good position on the leaderboard?

RASMUS HOJGAARD: I'm going to root for him until we are on Sunday back nine.

Q. Did you get a midweek haircut this week?

RASMUS HOJGAARD: I did actually. I took the flow away. It got a bit too long, and I sort of thought, no, this is the time. So I managed to get a haircut on Wednesday. So far it's actually worked out.

Q. Did you walk into town to do that?

RASMUS HOJGAARD: No, there's --

Q. There's a barber here?

RASMUS HOJGAARD: There's a barber in the locker room. I put my name down on Monday and had to postpone it for Tuesday, and then I couldn't find Tuesday. Then I had to do it Wednesday, and I finally did it. It's been working out.