When you’re simply waking up and tuning into the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, you is perhaps stunned to see the identify J.S. Olesen sitting atop the leaderboard. To be truthful, it would be extra stunning if you happen to casually observe golf and nonetheless acknowledged the identify.
Jacob Skov Olesen, a Danish golfer who primarily performs on the DP World Tour, opened up the Open Championship with a powerful 4-under 67 earlier than a lot of the United States was away from 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 received 5 tournaments as an novice and moved to america to play at Ranger Group School, TCU and Arkansas. His profession took off in 2024 when he grew to become the primary Dane to win the Newbie Championship, punching his ticket to the Open Championship at Royal Troon. He made the lower 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 greatest 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 lower in his PGA Tour debut on the ISCO Championship final week.
