Certain future Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn has fully backed the appointment by Paul McGinley of Sam Torrance and Des Smyth as the initial two European Vice-Captains for this year’s showdown at Gleneagles.
McGinley announced the appointment of Torrance and Smyth last Thursday in Dublin and indicating he will wait to September 2nd, and two days after European Team qualifying ends at the Italian Open, before the double announcement at Tour HQ at Wentworth of firstly, his three ‘wildcard’ picks and then his further vice-captains.
Thomas Bjorn delighted with McGinley’s choice of Des Smyth and Sam Torrance as Gleneagles vice-captains.
Bjorn is currently lying second overall on the European Team points qualifying table and with the near certainty of being an automatic qualifier in McGinley’s team.
If so, it wohe uld be only the Dane’s second appearance as a team member after competing in the victorious 1997 and 2002 European Teams.
Since then Bjorn has played the pivotal part of being a vice-captain in both the 2010 and 2012 winning sides.
And having been a member of the side captained by Torrance 12 years ago at The Belfy, Bjorn is pleased McGinley has selected the Scot along with Smyth to work as vice-captains at Gleneagles.
“Paul has to pick vice-captains with whom he is comfortable working with and Des has been mentor to him and I probably have the same relationship with Sam as Paul has long enjoyed, so I see the appointment of Sam and Des as very important,” said Bjorn after a third round 73 for a seven over par tally in the WGC – Cadillac Championship.
“Sam was instrumental in the career for a lot of us with the way he conducted affairs in the 2002 Ryder Cup.
“So Paul needs to appoint people he can rely on and in choosing Sam and Des Paul very much has two people he can turn to.
“The vice-captains are important to the captain and of course, for the players as well but moreso for the captain. It’s going to be important from now to September for Paul to be able to talk to someone about Ryder Cup issues and with Des and Sam now on board Paul will have that opportunity.
“I’ve been in that situation of being a vice-captain and all you are doing is making sure is that you are giving the captain all the information he can to make the right decisions.
“Sam and Des will carry out that role perfectly. So it’s important Paul has vice-captains he can trust.”
While McGinley indicated he has known Smyth since he was 17 years old Bjorn also knows Smyth well having made his European Tour debut in 1996 when Smyth was aged 43 and four years before the Irishman became the then oldest winner on Tour in capturing the 2000 Madeira Islands Open.
“I’ve known Des for an awful long time and I have played a lot of golf with Des,” said Bjorn.
“That’s why it’s good Paul has got Des involved in the EurAsia Cup later this month as that will give him the opportunity to get to know a lot of the younger players better.
“People like Sam and Des will also help make for a relaxed environment at Gleneagles, and besides the are two great guys.
“Also it’s good with have a captain in Paul who is right in with the players and Paul has been great so far at that.”
