Bjorn is happy to relax his vice grip

EUROPEAN captain Thomas Bjorn has added four more vicecaptains for the Ryder Cup – but he would be quite happy if they played themselves out of the job.

Lee Westwood, Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington were yesterday added to Robert Karlsson as Bjorn’s lieutenants at Le Golf National in Paris in September. Europe are attempting to regain the trophy they lost to the United States at Hazeltine two years ago and Bjorn’s newest right-hand men have vast experience, with 24 cup appearances between them.

Westwood, McDowell and Harrington are all in the BMW PGA Championship which starts at Wentworth tomorrow and is traditionally when the chase for spots on the team begins in earnest.

Donald is missing with a back injury but Bjorn would be happy if any of the four made the team on merit and had to hand back his vicecaptain’s bib.

“If that happens, that’s a very positive problem,” said Bjorn. “If they are in that form and do those things they have been able to do in the past, then you want them in the team. We’ll deal with that problem when we get to it.”

Ireland’s McDowell, 38, who was on his sofa during the last Ryder Cup, says Europe are confident of reclaiming the trophy despite the Americans holding all four Majors and having the world’s No1 player in Justin Thomas. “Sitting at home was a disappointing place to be,” he said.

“They have got all the Major champions and Europe have slipped nicely into the underdog role. We are going to have a special team.”

Westwood, 45 and a veteran of 10 matches, said: “I am of an age where my chances of making the team go down significantly.”