TPC Boston, MA ..

It was an innocent question on the eve of the 2017 Dell Technologies Championship at TPC Boston.

Rory McIlroy was asked simply:  “When you hear the name Thomas Bjorn what immediately comes to mind?”

Of course, Bjorn in the 2018 European Ryder Cup captain and looking to regain the cup and continue Europe’s dominance of having never lost the Ryder Cup in 25 years on European soil.

McIlroy’s answer to the question was pure McIlroy.

Firstly, the scene is the 2007 Open de Madrid and McIlroy’s third tournament since turning pro and a week after having wrapped-up his 2008 Tour card by finishing T3rd a week earlier at the Alfred Dunhilll Links.

Thomas Bjorn and Rory McIlroy the best of friends at the 2014 Ryder Cup.

McIlroy now takes up the story.

“So Thomas and I didn’t get off to a very good start. I played with Thomas in the 2007 Madrid Open. And we got off to a bit of a rocky start,” he said smiling.

“I was a cocky 18 year old, he was a veteran. I might have shown a couple of bits of bad etiquette from time to time, and Thomas let me know about it. I thought this guy was a — whatever (laughter).

“And then we sort of hugged it out the next week on the range in Portugal. And we’ve been — we’ve actually been really good friends ever since.

“So, Thomas is very — he’s very principled, he always tries to do the right thing. For being quite a big and sort of — being an intimidating sort of character, he’s actually quite sensitive. He’s quite a big softy.

“I’ve gotten to know him quite a lot over the years, but obviously a little bit closer the last couple as we’ve gotten closer to the Ryder Cup. But Thomas is a great guy. He’s going to be a great captain. I chatted with him on the phone twice last week, just talking about a few things. He’s keeping everyone in the loop. So far with the whole process he’s been first class.”

Of course, we could not let the subject end there and with McIlroy asked to explain why Bjorn got upset with McIlroy’s on-course behaviour.

“I stepped on his through line on one hole so which was my mistake,” he said.

“And the next hole, very next hole, it was a drivable par 4, but it had a dip in the middle, so I went to the green. And I hit into the front bunker. And Thomas hit an iron on top of the hill and hit in. I couldn’t see where he was up on top of the hill.

“I was like right in his line between him and the flag. So I was just this oblivious 18 year old, trying to get my Tour card, and obviously he didn’t take that too well. It was fine.”

For the record McIlroy finished T4th at 11-under and five fewer than Bjorn.