Jonathan Gøth-Rasmussen’s season began with dreams of a DP World Tour card, but last year’s winner of the Danish Golf Challenge is hoping this week can help him overcome a slow start.
The Dane entered the Road to Mallorca’s first event in South Africa, the SDC Open, knowing a top four would have got him straight on to the DP World Tour.
It wasn’t to be for the 27-year-old, however, who finished on three under par and in a tie for 59th, but he has since struggled for form, making just two cuts in his seven events this year.
“It’s been a rough start to the season,” Gøth-Rasmussen admitted. “I haven’t played great.
“There’s been moments of good golf, but I’ve been struggling off the tee mainly. I’m trying to piece it together.”
The man from Helsingør needed a birdie on the last at Bogense Golf Club, last year’s venue for the Danish Golf Challenge, to see off Scotsman Calum Fyfe, which he duly delivered, sinking a lengthy putt for the win.
And although at a different course this year at Odense Eventyr Golf, Gøth-Rasmussen has fond memories of his victory just 20 miles down the road.
“Last year was special, playing as close to home as possible,” he added. “It was a really nice week and good to have the family there.
“The putt I made on 18 was pretty special, I still watch that on Instagram sometimes.
"It’s nice to have an event in Denmark, I’ve played this course growing up in junior tournaments, but it’s fun to see these courses play so different to how they normally do. The set up is pretty nice and the course is quite different to what it normally is.”
The two-time HotelPlanner Tour winner hopes that familiar feelings can help him find some form and inject some energy into his season, as he currently languishes in 112th in the Road to Mallorca rankings.
“We’re quite lucky to have so many Danish players out here, we play together every week which is good fun,” he added.
“I like playing in Denmark I feel like the grass and the courses suit me well, so I’m hoping to get started this week.”
Gøth-Rasmussen is part of a strong field at Odense Eventyr Golf which includes Road to Mallorca Number Two Pablo Ereno, former Ryder Cup star Chris Wood and three-time HotelPlanner Tour winner David Horsey.
The opening round of the Danish Golf Challenge gets under way at 7:30am local time on Thursday with Gøth-Rasmussen teeing off at 1:25pm alongside Ereno and Irishman Max Kennedy.
