Thorbjørn Olesen joins a Danish uprising, seizing the lead at the 3M Open

Jerry Zgoda, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Jul 25, 2025

Published in Golf

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BLAINE, Minn. — Denmark’s Thorbjørn Olesen overtook the lead early Friday morning in the 3M Open’s second round and kept it all day long.

Olesen followed Thursday’s tournament-record-tying 62 with a Friday 66 that kept Californian Jake Knapp one shot away. Third-generation Texas pro Pierceson Coody and Thursday 62 shooter Sam Stevens are two shots away from the leading 14-under-par score.

His success means Olesen is projected to move up 73 places from No. 129 to No. 56 in the FedExCup points rankings. That’s enough to make the 70-man playoffs that start Aug. 7 in Memphis, and it’s not far off the 50-player cutoff for the BMW Championship after that.

Olesen’s best PGA Tour finish is a tie for third at the 2018 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. That 36-hole score of 128 in his 3M Open debut is a career best. His previous best was 131 at the 2025 RBC Canadian Open. It’s the first 36-hole lead or co-lead in his 95 PGA Tour starts.

He arrived in Blaine this week after he missed last week’s British Open cut, at 35 the oldest of a growing contingent of pro-tour golfers from his home country.

Six Danish golfers competed last week at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, including 24-year-old twin brothers Rasmus and Nicolai Højgaard as well as 26-year-old Jacob Skov Olesen.

Nicolai tied for 14th last week, Rasmus tied for 16th and Skov Olesen was the early surprise leader.

Showing the way for all of them was Thomas Bjørn, a 24-time winner worldwide and Europe’s 2018 Ryder Cup captain. Olesen played on that Ryder Cup team.

The Danes are surfing such a wave, it seems even New Jersey-raised Chris Gotterup, who created something of a stir himself last week, wants in.

Both of Gotterup’s parents have Danish blood.

Something is working for Gotterup: He finished third last week after outdueling Rory McIlroy at the Scottish Open the week before, and he’s tied for eighth in the 3M Open at 10 under par, four shots behind Olesen.

“My dad can actually speak fluently, and I’ve got nothing,” Gotterup said. “It’s just cool. It makes going over there a little more fun and feel a little bit of something. I don’t know, it’s just a cool part of my family.”

Olesen was asked why Denmark is having such a moment on the golfing landscape.

“Yeah, that’s a good question,” he said. “It’s obviously great to be sort of part of that. We are a very small country and probably not the ideal country for golf with the weather we have.”

He attributes it to the country’s people.

“The Danes in general have a very good mentality, a strong mentality growing up, and I think that’s part of why we have success at golf,” Olesen said. “There have been players in the past who made the way for us, especially Thomas, who is a good friend of mine. You see guys who have done great things, and it makes you believe that you have a chance.”

He will aim for his 16th win worldwide — he’s won eight times on the European Tour — and his first on the PGA Tour this weekend. Olesen has two top 10 PGA Tour finishes this season, a tie for fifth at the Valero Texas Open in April and a tie for seventh at Myrtle Beach in May.

He has started 16 PGA Tour events, missed six of 16 cuts, has those two top 10s and has earned $761,717.

At stake are a trophy, exemptions and more FedExCup points to collect.

“I take every week as it comes,” Olesen said. “Every week is an opportunity to try and bounce back and do something special. You know, I put myself in a bit of a tough position, but there’s still quite a lot of events left.”