When you’re simply waking up and tuning into the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, you is likely to be shocked to see the title J.S. Olesen sitting atop the leaderboard. To be truthful, it might be extra shocking should you casually observe golf and nonetheless acknowledged the title.
Jacob Skov Olesen, a Danish golfer who primarily performs on the DP World Tour, opened up the Open Championship with a formidable 4-under 67 earlier than many of the United States was off the bed. He made 4 birdies, an eagle and solely two bogeys within the first spherical at Royal Portrush to seize the early lead.
So, who is that this man?
Olesen hasn’t been an expert golfer very lengthy. The 26-year-old gained 5 tournaments as an novice and moved to america to play at Ranger Neighborhood Faculty, TCU and Arkansas. His profession took off in 2024 when he turned the primary Dane to win the Newbie Championship, punching his ticket to the Open Championship at Royal Troon. He made the minimize and completed T60 in his main championship debut.
4 months later, Olesen certified for full-time standing on the DP World Tour in 2025. The lefty has performed in 15 DP World Tour occasions this yr, notching six top-20 finishes. Though Olesen is a mainstay on the European circuit, not even DP World Tour followers noticed this efficiency coming.
Olesen’s finest end this season was a T7 on the Joburg Open in March. He entered the Open Championship with only one top-40 end in his final six begins, and he missed the minimize in his PGA Tour debut on the ISCO Championship final week.
