European Ryder Cup standout Thorbjorn Olesen has been suspended from the European Tour pending an investigation into his arrest and subsequent charges filed for sexual assault, being drunk on an aircraft and common assault, according to Metropolitan Police in London.
The BBC reported the news of Olesen’s suspension on Wednesday.
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The European Tour announced Olesen’s suspension in a public statement, adding that it would have no further comment while the legal case is ongoing. The five-time European Tour winner is scheduled to appear in court on August 21.
According to The Sun, Olesen went on a “tirade” before molesting a woman on a British Airways flight from Nashville to London following the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Inviational. Olesen is alleged to have verbally abused fellow passengers and the flight crew before fellow Tour pro Ian Poulter calmed him down.
When Poulter returned to his seat and fell asleep, that’s when Olesen was accused of molesting a woman as well as urinating in the aisle.
“He started abusing some of the passengers and crew and then made a pass at one of the female passengers before taking a leak in the aisle,” a witness told the British paper. “It was shocking behavior. You would expect it maybe on a budget airline but not in the first-class cabin on B.A.”
Olesen was released “under investigation” by the MPS following the flight, but was charged this week.
Olesen, 29, has won 12 times as a professional, including 5 times on the European Tour. As a member of the victorious 2018 Ryder Cup team, Olesen went 1–1, including defeating Jordan Spieth in singles, 5&4. He is currently ranked No. 62 in the Official World Golf Rankings.
