Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn is hoping his superb stroke play winning season can help end an 11-year Continental Europe victory drought in this week’s Vivendi Seve Trophy.
It’s been four years since Bjorn last played in a team’s event and that was in the losing Continental Europe team in Ireland.
Paul McGinley and his men looking to win the Vivendi Seve Trophy for a sixth time in succcession. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Two years ago, Bjorn accepted the Continental Europe captaincy but went down by five points to Paul McGinley’s GB & I side.
Last year Bjorn joined McGinley as one of Colin Montgomerie’s three Ryder Cup vice-captains.
However he’s returned to active team duty as a lynchpin in Jean Van de Velde’s European Team.
Bjorn boasts the most experience of all Van de Velde’s team member’s.
In fact, the 40-year old was a member of the first and only Continental winning side at the inaugural event in 2000.
Since then Bjorn has played in a further four Continental sides. He also has competed in two winning Ryder Cup sides (1997 & 2002) along with being a member of the winning 2006 Royal Trophy side.
And Bjorn has also made it a habit of winning again on the main European Tour with victory earlier this year in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and then back-to-back wins in the Johnnie Walker Championship and Omega European Masters.
Jean Van de Velde hoping his Continental Europe team can fall into line in France. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“It’s been a sad year for golf in losing Seve but fortunately this event is one of the legacies he put in place, and knowing Seve team golf was always very important to him,” said Bjorn.
“Seve thought that a lot of young players on the Tour could learn a lot by putting these team events in place, and I’m just so delighted to have been a member of that first Continental Europe team.
“We all know each other and when it comes to a Ryder Cup we all stand on the same side
but when the gun goes off in this event on Thursday it’s proven over the years it is a very competitive and hard fought contest.
“So it’s a fun event and it takes away from what we do every week.”
Apart from Miguel Angel Jimenez who has played in 28 matches, Bjorn is next best for Continental Europe with 22 matches under his belt.
Organisers still need to find Raphael Jacquelin a Continental Europe team bag after his late call up. (Photo -www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Bjorn has won eight of those lost 13 while three have been halved.
“I was the captain last time around for the Continental team and that’s where you want to be back inside the ropes and with golf clubs in your hands,” said Bjorn.
“It was good experience for me to be a captain but this is where I still want to be on the fairways and that’s hitting golf shots.
“I’m coming here having had two very good weeks in Scotland and Switzerland that helped book my place in this event.
“So while I am delighted with how the year has gone for me there is still a long way to go.
“Also when you are on form you want more and you want it quickly. So I just to pace myself knowing that nothing lasts forever.
“But the main thing for this week is to try and win that trophy back.”
