VIKTOR KOFOD-OLSEN
The UAE has always been a goldmine for budding golf prodigies – from Josh Hill, who clinched the title as the youngest champ in an Official World Golf Ranking event in 2019, to Dubai-born star Rayhan Thomas, who ditched the sizzling sun for the cut-throat collegiate golf scene.
But now there’s a new name on everyone’s lips, with Danish teenager Viktor Kofod-Olsen causing a bit of a stir within the golf industry in the UAE in the first few months of the year.
It all started when the 17-year-old produced an impressive display at the Junior Dubai Desert Classic, carding rounds of 71 and 69 to lift the trophy against a strong field that featured golfers from across the world. A start in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic Pro-Am quickly followed, which the GEMS Wellington International student went on to win alongside DP World Tour star Tom McKibbin.
An impressive Dubai Desert Classic double – surely that can’t be topped? Well, it well and truly was when the youngster received an invitation from the Emirates Golf Federation to compete in the third edition of the Ras Al Khaimah Championship. Not bad for someone who spent the days leading up to the DP World Tour event in a classroom!
We needed to know more about this teenage sensation, so caught up with the +3.4 handicapper to find out everything from how he got started in the game to how he dealt with the nerves playing against the likes of Rasmus Højgaard and Thorbjørn Olesen.
Worldwide Golf: Viktor, let’s start at the beginning, when did you first start playing golf?
Viktor Kofod-Olsen: I first took up the game when I moved to Dubai in 2009. We’ve always been members of Emirates Golf Club as a family; we all the play the game. My brother plays college golf in the States and both my parents play golf. I went to the range with my dad and brother to hit balls and I found it really interesting. I then started going to the driving range on my own, that’s when I realised this game had caught my attention. I would hit different shots and try different things out on the range and really enjoyed it.
WWG: When did it hit you that you were pretty good at playing golf?
VK-O: I probably realised I was pretty good when I was taken into the elite team at Emirates Golf Club, which was run by Stephen Deane. The group was primarily for kids two to three years older than me, but my brother and I were asked to join, and as one of the younger ones in the group I knew I must have been pretty good to get into the team. I kept practicing and had lessons with Stephen to keep getting better and ensure I was keeping up with the older boys.
WWG: You just mentioned Stephen Deane in that answer, I believe he’s still your coach to this day. How has he helped improve your game over the years?
VK-O: Stephen has been my coach ever since joining the elite team. He’s played a big role in improving my game. We’ve always looked at each part of my game together, while he’s also helped me out with the mental side of the game on the course. He was my caddie at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship which was a big deal for me – to have my coach on the bag and being able to talk to him about different shots and how I conducted myself out on the course was really helpful. He’s always had a big role to play in my game, I’ve never wanted to switch coach as we have a great relationship, and he knows my swing better than anybody.
WWG: What are the biggest strengths and weakness in your game?
VK-O: Ever since I got into that elite team I was primarily playing with kids that were older than me. My brother is also three years older, so I’d play a lot with him and his mates. I’d want to hit it as far them and even further, so that part my game has developed quite well over the years. I’ve been able to be precise and long off the tee – it’s one of the strongest parts of my game and one I can rely on under pressure.
Another is putting. I currently don’t take any lessons for that side of things as I believe putting is more a of a ‘feel’ element to the game. If I have a decent putting stroke and I can read the green speeds correctly, my putting is usually pretty good. In terms of the weakest part of my game, I would say it’s my headspace and mental part of the game. When I was younger, also now actually, I would expect myself to play really well, so when that one bad shot came in, I would lose my head and get upset with myself and ask why that was happening. I’d say that also had something to do with people I was playing with as they’d usually be better than me, so I looked up to them and wanted to play as good as them without thinking about the age difference we had.
I’ve been working on my mental game with Stephen as well. I’ve made myself a ten-step rule, where I can be upset with myself over a shot for ten steps after I’ve hit the shot, but from there it needs to be gone from my mind and the focus needs to be on the next shot. Otherwise, it’s like a domino effect which can lead to my next few shots being just as bad, so that’s why I’ve implemented that ten-step rule to ensure I don’t ruin a round.
WWG: You started the year with a bang by winning the Junior Dubai Desert Classic. Talk us through how you were feeling after that victory?
VK-O: Winning the Junior Dubai Desert Classic was incredible. I played last year and was in second place going into the final round before finishing third, which was quite disappointing for me as I really wanted to win it. This year I had plenty of motivation to put that right, so to secure that title of Junior Dubai Desert Classic champion was huge. To play under Tour conditions, the rough being as high and dense as it was and playing a tournament under the lights was definitely an experience. To be able to say I was crowned champion at my home club is pretty nice.
WWG: Next up was the Dubai Desert Classic Pro-Am, where you also emerged victorious. What did you learn from playing with Tom McKibbin?
VK-O: It was another amazing experience. I actually had the chance to play three years ago alongside J.B. Hansen and this year I was paired with Tom McKibbin. He’s only four years older than me so it was amazing to play with someone who I have quite a lot in common with. We had quite a bit to talk about, including him giving me some motivation on turning pro and explaining how he manages his game and practice. We even exchanged Instagram handles to set up a round together but then I ended up playing the Ras Al Khaimah Championship, so we never got round to it. Being around that environment of Tour players preparing for a tournament was a really great experience.
WWG: Talking of the Ras Al Khaimah Championship, that must have been pretty special to make your DP World Tour debut after such a great month?
VK-O: The Ras Al Khaimah Championship was an unforgettable experience. I was called on the Tuesday of tournament week while I was in school to tell me that I had received an invite from the Emirates Golf Federation to play. I really want to highlight that as it’s a great honour to represent the UAE and the EGF, so I’ll forever be thankful for that.
In terms of what I learned from the experience, there were a few things that stood out to me. The first was not having a rangefinder and having to use the course guide to get my distances rather than getting the distance straight to the pin. I felt like that benefited me in my headspace because I didn’t really have the time to get angry at any shots because I knew I had to go to the ball, find the distance and focus on that otherwise the next shot would be completely messed up.
The other thing was having a caddie, as I’m not used to having anyone on the bag. But it was nice to get the emotions out and talk to Stephen rather than talking to myself or keeping it in if I hit a bad shot. I would explain how I felt and why I did what I did rather than having to think about it to myself until the end of the round. Lastly, rather than being nervous and intimidated by the professionals, I felt like the pros I played with had quite a big impact on my experience as I wasn’t too familiar with them. I think I would have been a lot more nervous had I known them more. I played with two really nice German guys, Maximillian Rottluff and Freddy Schott. If I was playing with the guys that I knew well and watched regular on TV, I would have been much more nervous.
WWG: Where would you like to be in your career in ten years’ time?
VK-O: Now that I’ve won the Junior Dubai Desert Classic, I want to win the actual Dubai Desert Classic within the next ten years to be able to say I’ve won both events – that’s a big goal for me. Being on Tour and receiving my first Major invite is a goal of mine as well. I want to work hard to achieve that, make my practice count and be as efficient as possible so I can have a higher chance of achieving that. For now, I’m currently in contact with some colleges in the States, who I’ve been emailing and having phone calls with. I’m in the recruitment process of trying to find the right fit for me. That’s where I want to be at the end of 2025.
