DP World Tour: Italian Open set for a band of brothers

Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard

By Matt Smith
As the DP World Tour prepares for a 2023 Ryder Cup dress rehearsal of sorts at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club this week, there is one unique sideshow that could produce the headline act.

Not one, not two, but three sets of brothers will line up in the stellar field in Rome — a first for the DP World Tour.

First up is defending champion Nicolai Hojgaard and his sibling Rasmus. These identical twins like to do things together — including winning. Nicolai won his first DP World Tour title at the Italian Open last time around, only a week after Rasmus claimed Omega European Masters in Switzerland, becoming the first brothers to win back-to-back events on Tour.

The victory was part of a strong end to the 2021 season as Nicolai went on to finish runner-up at the Portugal Masters and tied fourth at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, helping him close out the season eighth on the season-long rankings. Since then, the 21-year-old has gone to win his second Tour title with a four-shot victory at the Ras al Khaimah Championship in the UAE in February.

Edoardo (left) and Francesco Molinari have become Ryder Cup stars. Adrian Dennis

Next up are the elder statesmen Molinaris, famed for their band-of-brothers exploits in the Ryder Cup for Team Europe and a collective 20 top-flight titles between them — including Francesco’s famous Open Championship triumph at Carnoustie in Scotland.

From two of the most recognisable brothers in world golf to one of the newest kids on the block. No, not Matt Fitzpatrick, the reigning US Open champ, but his little bruv Alex, who just turned pro in June at the Irish Open. A breakthrough DP World Tour victory for Alex this week would see the Fitzpatricks become the fifth pair of brothers to have both earned at least one victory.

Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick. David Cannon

It won’t be easy for the rookie as, apart from his brother and those other multiple-title-winning siblings, he will also have to contend with the likes of FEdEx Cup champion Rory McIlroy, world No. 10 Viktor Hovland, former Italian Open winners Tyrrell Hatton and Thorbjorn Olesen and a hosts of DP World Tour winners in a stacked field.

But you cannot beat a bit of sibling rivalry.

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DP World Tour: Italian Open set for a band of brothers

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