D-DAYS IN DENMARK
Europe skipper Bjorn throws down gauntlet to Ryder Cup hopefuls
BY DALE RANKIN THOMAS BJORN has told his Ryder Cup hopefuls to “take control” of their destiny in the final qualifying event at his home club in Denmark.
Seven players are guaranteed a place in the team for September’s contest against the United States, with Thorbjorn Olesen in pole position to join Francesco Molinari, Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton, Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm and Alex Noren at Le Golf National.
Olesen occupies the final automatic qualifying place and can seal a Ryder Cup debut with a top-six finish at the Made in Denmark event, with England’s Eddie Pepperell and Matt Fitzpatrick needing to win and hope the Dane has a bad week.
European skipper Bjorn said: “It always comes down to the last qualifying event so as a captain you want to see them go out and take control of the situation.
“Eddie and Fitz have a lot to do in the way they need to win the golf tournament so it’s a big ask, but they are very capable of doing that. You’ve just got to sit on the sidelines and have a good look at it. It’s going to be interesting.”
Fitzpatrick, who lost both of his matches at Hazeltine in 2016, won the second qualifying event in Switzerland last September but has recorded just two top 10 finishes in 2018.
He said: “It’s been my main goal to make the team all year but at the same time if it doesn’t happen, I’ve not played well enough to get myself on that team and that’s just the way it is.
“I know what I need to do and it’s pretty simple really. Having the experience I had in 2016, not playing as much as I would have liked was disappointing after qualifying for the team, so it would be nice to make amends for that.”
Olesen admits it is hard to avoid thinking about the Ryder Cup after a brilliant run of form this summer vaulted him into contention, but believes playing in front of a home crowd could work in his favour.
He said: “It makes it easier. I want to put myself in a good position for Sunday.”