Tag: Thomas Bjorn

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Panorama

Henrik Stenson names first vice-captain for 2023 Ryder Cup

Henrik Stenson (right) is counting on Thomas Bjørn as his first vice captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)
Henrik Stenson (right) is counting on Thomas Bjørn as his first vice captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)

The team around Ryder Cup captain Henrik Stenson is starting to grow. Thomas Bjørn has been named first vice-captain for the match between Europe and the United States. The 51-year-old Dane already brings a lot of Ryder Cup experience with him. He has already taken part in the event eight times: three times as a player, four times as vice-captain and once as the winning captain at the 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris. More than 20 years ago, in 1997, Thomas Bjørn’s Ryder Cup career began when he became the first Dane ever to be part of the European team led by Seve Ballesteros.

Stenson trusts Thomas Bjørn “implicitly”

The two Scandinavians Henrik Stenson and Thomas Bjørn have known each other for many years. For Stenson, that’s one point that significantly influenced his decision to go with Bjørn: “I trust him implicitly and I know any advice he will give me will be honest and direct. He will not simply tell me what he thinks I want to hear and that will be important, so I’m delighted to have him as my first Vice Captain for Rome.”

In addition, Stenson said he trusts Bjørn’s years of experience already with the Ryder Cup. Considering the fact that the Ryder Cup will not take place for over a year, Stenson is looking forward to the long preparation period: “I will be depending on him a lot and I’m really looking forward to those chats.”

Bjørn is looking forward to the Ryder Cup 2023

For Thomas Bjørn, Henrik Stenson’s request seemed to have come as a surprise: “I probably thought that after 2018 that was it for me, but Henrik called me to talk about Captaincy in general and that led into him asking me if I wanted to do another stint as Vice Captain, which I agreed to. I’m excited to work with him.” Thomas Bjørn intends to fulfill his role as vice captain as best he can: “I will help him prepare in the best possible way and as we get closer to the match, to be an additional support to the players.”

The Dane has high hopes for captain Henrik Stenson, both golf-wise and personally. He describes Stenson as a “hard-working golfer” who will make a fantastic captain. For Bjørn, Stenson is “somebody who is true to himself, and his team will represent that. He has a great sense of humour that the players will take to, and he is very well liked across the whole Tour.”

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Highlights Tours

Ryder Cup legends and rising stars set for Betfred British Masters

Participants of the Betfred British Masters (Photo DP World Tour)
Participants of the Betfred British Masters (Photo: DP World Tour)

Ryder Cup legends Thomas Bjørn and Lee Westwood will return to the scene of one of their most famous Ryder Cup victories when they tee it up alongside three of Europe’s biggest rising stars in May’s Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett at The Belfry.

The duo were members of Sam Torrance’s side which famously won back the 2002 Ryder Cup on a 15½ – 12½ scoreline and started Europe’s undefeated streak on home soil, a record which was continued under Bjørn’s captaincy at Le Golf National four years ago.

Westwood’s history…

Westwood racked up three points in front of his home fans 20 years ago at the Warwickshire venue, forming a strong partnership with Sergio Garcia. Five years later, the former World Number One claimed his maiden British Masters title at The Belfry with a five-stroke victory on the Brabazon Course. He went on to host the tournament at Close House in 2017 and 2020, becoming the first player to do so on two occasions – an honour which Willett will match this year after he took on the role for the first time in 2021.

…and Bjørn’s as well

Bjørn, who claimed a crucial point in the Sunday Singles in 2002 by beating Stewart Cink 2&1, is also a former winner of the British Masters, securing his eighth of 15 victories on Tour in 2005 when it was held at Forest of Arden.

Who else is participating?

The two DP World Tour legends join Betfred British Masters host Danny Willett and defending champion Richard Bland in the field, as well as three of the DP World Tour’s most promising rising stars.

Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre will hope to keep up his run of strong performances at the British Masters, following on from a runner-up finish in 2019 and a tied eighth result at last year’s tournament.

Danish representatives at the Ryder Cup

History-making twins Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard, who are aiming to follow in Bjørn’s footsteps as Danish representatives at the Ryder Cup, will also tee it up at The Belfry in May, with Rasmus returning to the venue where he won his second DP World Tour title – the ISPS Handa UK Championship. The victory was the second win in his 2019 rookie season.

The pair became the first brothers to win back-to-back events as Rasmus won the Omega European Masters the week before Nicolai earned a maiden DP World Tour title at the DS Automobiles Italian Open. Nicolai returned to the winner’s circle earlier this year at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship presented by Phoenix Capital. The Højgaard twins have won five times in 110 starts between them.

Tickets and Premium Experiences for the Betfred British Masters

Tickets are available to watch Richard Bland, Danny Willett and a host of DP World Tour stars return to The Belfry for this year’s Betfred British Masters from May 5-8. Click here to purchase.

Premium experiences are also available at the tournament with options in the Ryder Suite and Wishaw Suite. The Ryder Suite was home of the European Team Room at the 2001 Ryder Cup, while the Wishaw Suite is in close proximity to the famous tenth and 18th holes of the Brabazon Course, offering sweeping views across the impressive golf course and estate. Click here to view Premium Experiences.

(Text: DP World Tour)

Categories
Senior Tours

Thomas Bjørn to headline star-studded field at Trevose

Image: Getty

Thomas Bjørn, the 2018 Ryder Cup winning captain and 15-time European Tour winner, will make his Legends Tour debut at the Farmfoods European Legends Links Championship hosted by Ian Woosnam at Trevose Golf & Country Club from June 18-20, 2021.

The most successful Danish golfer of all-time turned 50 earlier this year and will make his Legends Tour bow in the first event on European soil since the Tour rebranded in 2020.

The three-time Ryder Cup winning player will be joined in Cornwall by tournament host and 1991 Masters Champion Ian Woosnam and 1999 Open Champion Paul Lawrie.

Bjørn is entering the next phase of his career on the Legends Tour after competing on the European Tour for 25 consecutive seasons, since earning his card by winning the 1995 Challenge Tour Rankings.

“I am really looking forward to making my Legends Tour debut,” he said. “I have known many of these guys for a long time, so I am excited to be able to catch up and spend some time with them again.

“The guys are still incredibly competitive, and the standard of golf will be very high, so I know I will need to be razor sharp in order to compete where I want to be at the top of leaderboards.

“I think it is a really exciting time to be involved with the Legends Tour following the changes over the last 12 months and I am intrigued to see what the future holds.”

Legends Tour Ambassador Lawrie, who won his maiden over-50s title at the Scottish Senior Open en route to being named Rookie of the Year in 2019, is looking forward to teeing it up on the links once more after his first visit to Trevose did not quite go to plan.

“I absolutely love links golf, it’s what I am used to living in Scotland, and hopefully I’ll have a better experience than last time I was down there.

“I got disqualified for playing the wrong ball in 2019. It was just one of those things that happens and you learn from.  Although the week didn’t go as I planned, I was able to appreciate the beauty of the venue and also the quality of the golf course.

(Text: European Tour Communications)