Four of the Nordic region's biggest golf stars launch THE VIKING

Thursday, 30 July 2026

Four of the Nordic region's biggest golf stars have joined forces with a shared ambition: to create a new international platform that celebrates the unique rivalry between Denmark and Norway while strengthening the development of the next generation of Nordic golfers.

The project, THE VIKING – Battle of the Vikings, has been developed through a collaboration between Denmark's GolfPromote and Norway's NextUp Golf.

Leading the initiative are four captains who have established themselves among the Nordic region's most successful players on the international stage:

• Viktor Hovland & Kristoffer Reitan (Norway)

• Nicolai Højgaard & Rasmus Højgaard (Denmark)

Together, they will become the faces of a new annual team match between Denmark and Norway, where established world-class players compete alongside juniors, female golfers and some of the region's brightest young talents.

More Than a Golf Tournament

THE VIKING has been created with the ambition of becoming far more than a traditional golf tournament.

The vision is to establish a recurring event where Denmark and Norway meet in a unique team competition while creating better opportunities for the next generation of professional golfers.

The project also represents the first step in a broader Nordic strategy, with GolfPromote and NextUp Golf working together to strengthen professional golf through closer collaboration across national borders.

"For many years we have worked to develop professional golf in Denmark, and with THE VIKING we are taking the next step. Together with NextUp Golf, we want to create a platform that combines world-class golf while providing even greater opportunities for the next generation of Nordic players. It is an ambition we truly believe in, and one we hope will unite the golf community across the region." Flemming Astrup, GolfPromote CEO, said.

"Norway and Denmark have produced some of the world's best golfers in recent years. Rather than working independently, we believe we can achieve something even stronger together. THE VIKING marks the beginning of closer Nordic cooperation, with the ambition of developing the sport, creating new opportunities for players and building a platform that can grow year after year." Peter Kaensche, NextUp Golf, said.

The Format

THE VIKING will be an annual team match between Denmark and Norway. Each nation will field a 12-player team, selected by the four captains, who will also compete in the event themselves.

The teams will represent the full Nordic player pathway and include a mix of:

• Junior players, Female golfers, Emerging talents, ECCO Tour players, HotelPlanner Tour players, DP World Tour players and PGA TOUR players

The objective is to create a unique team competition where tomorrow's stars compete alongside some of the Nordic region's biggest names.

The inaugural edition of THE VIKING will take place in Week 29 of 2027, with competition hosted in both Denmark and Norway.

Further details regarding the final competition format, venues and schedule will be announced in the coming months.

The Captains: Giving Something Back

For the four captains, THE VIKING is about more than representing their country.

It is also about creating better opportunities for young players pursuing a professional career.

Viktor Hovland: "I have personally benefited from people and tournaments that believed in me early in my career. If we can help create even more opportunities for young players in the Nordic region, I believe it is worth supporting. At the same time, I like the idea of combining that with the sporting rivalry between Norway and Denmark."

Kristoffer Reitan: "We have many talented young golfers across the Nordic region, but the journey to the top is long and demanding. If THE VIKING can create more opportunities while inspiring the next generation, it is a project I am proud to be part of."

Nicolai Højgaard: "I know how important the right tournaments and the right environment are at the beginning of a professional career. That's why I'm excited to help create something that is not only about those of us competing today, but also about the players who will follow. If we can also establish a new tradition between Denmark and Norway, that makes it even more special."

Rasmus Højgaard: "Golf has given us incredible experiences all over the world. Giving something back to the game feels like the natural next step. THE VIKING is about much more than a team match – it is about helping develop future generations of players and creating something that can make a lasting impact for many years to come."

Today's announcement marks the official launch of the vision and overall concept behind THE VIKING.

Further details regarding the competition format, host venues, commercial partners, ticket sales and additional event information will be announced over the coming months.