Is Thorbjorn Olesen the Best-Kept Secret at the Masters?

Is this kid the best-kept secret in golf? Not for long. The name Thorbjørn Olesen—or Thorbjorn Olesen in English—might be hard to pronounce, but you'll soon have to be deaf or blind not to notice this European player in international golf.

Those who took notice of what happened at Bay Hill, besides Tiger Woods winning his eighth Arnold Palmer Invitational, might recall this 23-year-old Dane smacking a wedge up to a given birdie on the 18th hole in the third round and later finishing shared for seventh in what was his debut on the PGA Tour.

On the European Tour he’s already a household name, with a win in Sicily last season and truckload of thirds and seconds. He even a shared ninth spot in the 2012 Open after being paired with Woods in third round and holding his own. This year he came in second in Abu Dhabi and third in Dubai.

Still doesn’t ring a bell?

Well, take a closer look at the guy in the yellow Nike polo on Thursday in the first round of the Masters. You just might witness another breakthrough from this player, entering his fourth major and his first task at Augusta. Olesen has spent less than four seasons reaching this point from an amateur status to No. 40 in the world rankings, and he has impressed in every new challenge he has been let on to. 

No wonder Nike grabbed this player by the neck and has planted him in his own set of dresses along some the world’s best players and major winners, because this 5'9" powerhouse does not seem to fold under pressure.

Granted, in a time frame where Tiger is returning, McIlroy is making everybody debate his motivation and Phil Mickelson is transforming a driver to a fairway wood (or is it the other way around?), it might be hard to get noticed. But Olesen does not only have a winning smile and a winning personality; he also has a winning game.

Olesen had to take a break and withdraw from Shell Houston Open after a 82 on Thursday with a neck injury (caused by a car crash the day before the tournament), and Augusta greens are pure evil to newcomers. It would be foolish to bet on the first Danish win in a major this week, but look for this player on the good side of the leaderboard, because it just might be a sneak peak at more greatness in golf.