Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard relishing creating Masters history at Augusta

Like most siblings, Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard may disagree on some things, but they are united in acknowledging that without one another they would not be on the brink of making history at the Masters Tournament.

On Thursday, they will become the first twins to compete in the same Masters, adding another remarkable chapter on their journey in the top echelons of golf.

Unlike during their formative years as golfers, they realise the value they can each bring to the other as they compete on the biggest stages.

Still only 24, the pair – who have eight DP World Tour titles between them – have become accustomed to commanding the attention of the golf world.

"I think growing up it was very difficult because we were very competitive," said Rasmus, who is making his Masters debut this week.

"I don't think we supported each other very much back then. We would fight a lot more than saying congratulations.

"I think over the years we've matured quite a bit.

"It's always having someone to practice with, competing against I think is very helpful, and I think we can both say that we probably wouldn't be here if we didn't have each other."

From growing up imagining making a putt at their local club to win the Green Jacket as youngsters, the Danish duo arrive at Augusta National hoping to turn their dreams into reality.

Rasmus added: "I think we really started watching the Masters when we were about 10, 11 years old. So 2012 when Bubba (Watson) won was probably the first real memory we have of the place. Yeah, it's nice to be here now."

While Rasmus is taking in the splendour of Augusta National for the first time this week, he doesn't have to turn far for pieces of advice with Nicolai having briefly led in the third round last year before finishing tied 16th on his debut.

It is an experience that Nicolai describes as his "most important" since turning professional in 2019.

"For my preparation, I'm more aware of stuff, especially on the back nine," he said of his approach 12 months on.

"It's playing tricky. But if you hit the right shots, you're going to have chances. And par is a good score at times, and I think you forget that when you're playing.

"When you're up there, you want to keep pushing."

It is widely accepted there is no substitute for experience at Augusta, and the Højgaards will be taking tips from wiser heads over the final two practice days in readiness for the first round.

“Last year I played nine holes with Jon Rahm on Tuesday and then played with Adam Scott on Wednesday,” said Nicolai.

“Tomorrow we're playing with Adam Scott again. I texted him a few days prior and asked if he wanted to play nine holes with us, and it's something - he's a guy we look up to as a golfer but also as a person, and him being a specialist around this place I thought would be good for both of us.

“We were supposed to play with José María Olazábal on Monday, but the weather kind of was a little bit in the way for that.”

He's a guy we look up to as a golfer but also as a person, and him being a specialist around this place I thought would be good for both of us

The pair call each other best friends as well as brothers and they attended their joint pre-tournament press conference together in matching outfits, although they claimed it was completely by chance. Helpfully, though, there was no fear of seeing double with Rasmus having a longer haircut.

But there was no denying Rasmus was seeing the humerous side when asked to imagine what it would be like to see the other sibling adorn the green jacket on Sunday.

"Probably be very frustrating," he joked to laughter from the attending media in the interview room.

"No, I think it would be very cool. It would be very cool.

"If something like that happens, I think we'll deal with it at the time, but I think it's hard to sit here and try and explain what that would feel like because that's going to be a little different from what we've tried before."