Leona Maguire and Nicolai Hojgaard victories offer reminder of European talent

Amid current uncertainty on the future direction of professional golf, it is reassuring that Europe boasts exciting young talent in the male and female ranks of the game.

A strong reminder of this fact was delivered last weekend. Victory on Saturday at the Drive On Championship, a first triumph for Ireland on the LPGA Tour, was a landmark moment for Leona Maguire.

Meanwhile the Danish turbo twins, Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard, continue their rapid progress on the DP World Tour with Nicolai tenaciously winning the Ras al Khaimah Championship on Sunday.

It was not the biggest event, but it still highlighted a remarkable ongoing story. This pair of brothers have already accumulated five titles between them on the European-based circuit and they are just 20 years of age.

Nicolai's latest victory backed up a breakthrough win at last year's Italian Open.

«If they were British or American, there would be a lot more excitement around them,» their fellow Dane and 2018 Ryder Cup captain, Thomas Bjorn, recently told reporters.

And there is undoubtedly plenty to rouse European golf fans from the astonishing rate of success these brothers have enjoyed at the start of their professional careers.

It is clear they are pushing each other in a unique family way. Rasmus is edging it with three tournament wins but Nicolai is now the higher ranked at 67 in the world and 41 places higher than his sibling.

Both seem certain to be in the mind of whoever captains the next European Ryder Cup team. But the selection process for that post remains mired in uncertainty generated by the Saudi Arabian influence currently destabilising the status quo.

Several future captaincy candidates — the likes of Henrik Stenson, Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter