Who's who: Thorbjørn Olesen

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Thorbjørn Olesen

  • Name:

    Jacob Thorbjørn Olesen
  • Country:

    Denmark
  • Born:

    Dec 21, 1989 in Furesø, nr Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • Original/Home Club:

    Furesø, Denmark
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer
  • Turned Pro:

    2008
  • Website:

    https://www.thorbjornolesen.com

Roll of Honour

Ryder Cup player (2018). Multiple wins on the European Tour. World Cup of Golf winner (2016, with Søren Kjeldsen).

Did you know?

After turning professional in 2008, Olesen enjoyed four wins on the Nordic Tour and one on the Challenge Tour, before joining the full European Tour in 2011. Some notable top 10 finishes came in his rookie year, not least at the French and Italian Opens where he finished in ties for second place.

Olesen's breakthrough European Tour victory came in the 2012 Sicilian Open, with further wins following in 2014, '15 and '16. In partnership with compatriot Søren Kjeldsen, Olesen capped a very successful 2016 with Denmark's first ever win in the World Cup of Golf.

Top tournaments won by Thorbjørn Olesen

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olesen, Thorbjorn

Score

261 (-27)

Prize money

US$425,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Ras Al Kaimah Championship (Jan 25-28). Second-placed fellow Dane, Rasmus Højgaard (Den) finished 6 shots behind Thorbjørn Olesen (Den), who recorded his eighth European (DP World) Tour win. [Al Hamra GC, Ras Al Kaimah, UAE].

2023
Asia
264 (-24)
US$340,000
x

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Olesen, Thorbjorn

Score

264 (-24)

Prize money

US$340,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the inaugural Thailand Classic (Feb 16-19; European-DP World Tour event). Second-placed Yannik Paul (Ger) finished 4 shots behind Thorbjørn Olesen (Den). [Amata Spring CC, Bangkok, Thailand]. Note: the Thailand Classic title was previously used for an unrelated Asian/European Tours event held in 2015 and 2016.

2022
Europe
278 (-10)
£308,330
Betfred

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olesen, Thorbjorn

Score

278 (-10)

Prize money

£308,330

Title sponsor

Betfred

Played as the Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett (May 5-8). Second-placed Sebastian Soderberg (Swe) finished 1 shot behind Thorbjørn Olesen (Den). [Brabazon course, The Belfry, Wishaw, nr Birmingham].

2018
Europe
262 (-22)
US$1,166,660
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olesen, Thorbjorn

Score

262 (-22)

Prize money

US$1,166,660

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Italian Open (May 31-Jun 3; second of eight Eurpn Tr Rolex Series event). Second-placed and home country favourite Francesco Molinari (Italy) finished 1 shot behind Olesen (Den), who recorded his fifth European Tour win. [Gardagolf CC, Soiano del Lago, nr Brescia, Lake Garda].

2016
Europe
264 (-20)
€1,065,388
Turkish Airlines

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olesen, Thorbjorn

Venue

Carya

Score

264 (-20)

Prize money

€1,065,388

Title sponsor

Turkish Airlines

Played as the Turkish Airlines Open (Nov 3-6; first of three European Tour Final Series events). Second-placed David Horsey (Eng) and Haotong Li (China) finished 3 shots behind Thorbjørn Olesen (Den), who claimed his fourth European Tour win. [Carya GC, Belek, nr Antalya, Turkey].

2015
Europe
270 (-18)
€708,171
Alfred Dunhill

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olesen, Thorbjorn

Score

270 (-18)

Prize money

€708,171

Title sponsor

Alfred Dunhill

Played as the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship (Oct 1-4). Second-placed Brooks Koepka (USA) and Chris Stroud (USA) finished 2 shots behind Thorbjørn Olesen (Den), who recorded his third European Tour win. [Old Course, St Andrews, Fife. Earlier rounds of this pro-am event also played at Carnoustie and Kingsbarns].

2014
Aus/NZ
271 (-17)
€198,300
ISPS Handa

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Olesen, Thorbjorn

Score

271 (-17)

Prize money

€198,300

Title sponsor

ISPS Handa

Played as the ISPS Handa Perth International (Oct 23-26; Eurpn/Aus Trs event). Second-placed Victor Dubuisson (Fra) finished 3 shots behind Thorbjørn Olesen (Den), who claimed his second European Tour title. [Lake Karrinyup CC, Perth, WA, Aus].

2012
Europe
273 (-15)
€166,660
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Olesen, Thorbjorn

Score

273 (-15)

Prize money

€166,660

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Sicilian Open (Mar 29-Apr 1; next played in 2017). Second-placed Chris Wood (Eng) finished 1 shot behind 22-year-old Thorbjørn Olesen (Den), who recorded his first European Tour win. [Verdura Resort, Sciacca, Sicily; composite of East & West courses, mainly using holes from the West].

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

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Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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