Frederik

Kjettrup

Kjettrup, from Aabyro in Denmark, had already enjoyed some success as an amateur before joining the golf program at Florida State University as a freshman in 2021.

That included winning the 2017 Titleist & Footjoy West Coast Masters, the Danish National Match Play Championship, DM Hulspil, in 2019 and the 2021 Danish National Stroke Play Championship, DM Slagspil.

At FSU he was a three-time champion in four collegiate seasons, with titles at the 2022 All-American Intercollegiate, the 2023 Watersound Invitational and last year sharing individual honors at the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship after a bizarre finish.

Kjettrup and Wake Forest senior Michael Brennan, who had won the individual ACC Championship in 2023, were tied at 7-under for the tournament and began a sudden death playoff at the 18th hole at Charlotte Country Club.

Five times they teed off and five times both players could not be separated, holing to par, until they were eventually declared co-champions.

While at FSU, Kjettrup became a three-time All-American for only the fourth time in program history and in his senior year crafted five top-10 places in events played.

By finishing eighth in the PGA Tour University Ranking, Kjettrup earned exemption to the PGA Tour Americas for the rest of the season, prompting his move to turn professional.

A couple of weeks after leaving FSU in June 2024, Kjettrup was teeing off at the 124th US Open at Pinehurst as a professional golfer.

The Dane, who had reached a highest placing of 11th on the world amateur golf ranking, had secured his Open spot through the Alpharetta, Georgia final qualifying event.

Kjettrup booked one of the three places available, posting a 12-under 132 at The Golf Club of Georgia, having shot back-to-back 66s.

At Pinehurst in June, Kjettrup claimed an eagle three on just the fifth hole of his maiden appearance at the Majors, but it turned out to be the highlight of his weekend.

Having completed the front nine at one-under, a total of five bogeys in the round saw him record a two-over-par 72 for the opening day.

That was followed by a 74 in the second round and his two-day total of six-over par was not enough to make the cut.

A week after making his professional debut at the US Open, Kjettrup arrived in Canada to make his bow on the PGA Tour Americas at the Beachlands Victoria Open.

It was a stunning start, Kjettrup winning the tournament with a four-round score of 21-under-par to snare the $40,500 prize money, one-stroke ahead of Mateo Fernández de Oliveira of Argentina.

Incredibly, his second win and another $40,500 prize check came the following weekend in just his second appearance on the Tour. The venue was the Northern Bear Golf Club in Strathcona County, Alberta, for the ATB Classic.

Kjettrup conquered all-comers, keeping every score on his card in the 60s to end the tournament 16-under, three-strokes ahead of nearest challenger John Keefer.

He picked up a third win in September, topping the leaderboard at the CRMC Championship.

Once again, he was destroying par scores, this time at Cragun’s Legacy Course in Brainerd, Minnesota, shooting a 24-under total over four rounds, two strokes ahead of second-place Bryce Lewis.

By the end of the season, he had competed in nine of the 10 remaining PGA Tour Americas events since turning professional, earning $137,419 prize money in total.

Kjettrup also finished runner-up on the PGA Tour Americas points list for the 2024 season, the Fortinet Cup Ranking, guaranteeing him entry to the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour, but ultimately his future lay elsewhere.

A week before Christmas, Cleeks Golf Club announced that Kjettrup would be part of their four-man roster for the 2025 LIV Golf League.

“Frederik is one of the brightest young talents in the game,” captain Martin Kaymer said.

“His impressive track record and fearless approach make him a perfect fit for our team.

“I’m looking forward to seeing him thrive within the competitive atmosphere of LIV Golf.”

Kjettrup joins Kaymer plus two-time senior major champion Richard Bland and 2023 DP World Tour Player of the Year Adrian Meronk at Cleeks as they look to improve on their 2024 season finish of 11th place at the Dallas Team Championship finale.

“Frederik embodies everything our team stands for: Talent, sportsmanship, and the drive to redefine the future of golf,” said Cleeks General Manager, Jonas Martensson.

“We are proud to welcome him to the team and are confident he will make an immediate impact both on and off the course.”

While attending FSU, Kjettrup answered an ‘All About Me’ Q&A for his college profile page.

When asked which player he would choose to share a round of golf with, Kjettrup suggested five-time Major champion Brooks Koepka, who is now captain of rival LIV Golf outfit Smash GC. 

Another question wanted to know where he would like to travel someday. Kjettrup said he fancied a trip to Australia, a wish that LIV could grant with LIV Golf Adelaide in February.

The other country on his most wanted list was Canada, and he fulfilled that with bells on in June 2024.

Visiting as a professional golfer on the PGA Tour Americas, Kjettrup won the first two tournaments he played in Canada, the 2024 Beachlands Victoria Open and the ATB Classic.

In terms of a dream course to play on, Augusta National got his vote, no doubt hoping for a possible place in The Masters in future.

Kjettrup stated he has three hole-in-one shots on his CV, saying he “made one at a practice round for a tournament on a 200-yard par-3 and two at the short course at Seminole.”

As for the favorite golf club in his bag, Kjettrup went for a 60-degree wedge, useful for those short approach shots that need some loft before dropping on the green.

It will be interesting to hear whether he gets to play his favorite kind of music when Cleeks have their get togethers as he’s a fan of rap and hip-hop.