How Europe’s team success was Bjorn
DEREK LAWRENSON
Captain Fantastic looked something less than that when he spoke to a small huddle of journalists at Le Golf national yesterday morning.
‘i think the first thing i am going to do is sleep for a week,’ said thomas Bjorn. ‘i’m not hung over. i’m just tired.’
the celebrations in paris had gone well, apparently, until about 3am. ‘it got a bit out of hand after that,’ he added, sheepishly.
the Dane brought along a certain gold trophy with him, and it might be some time before anyone manages to prise it from his grasp. Which is fair enough, given the pursuit of it took over his professional life for 18 months.
naturally, he had some grand stories to reveal now the Ryder cup had been won and the team had done him proud.
One of the best concerned Francesco Molinari, who created history by becoming the first European to claim five points out of five. Bjorn disclosed that he was concerned about the italian in July, after he decided to play in the John Deere classic on the pGa tour rather than earn Ryder cup qualifying points playing in the French, irish and scottish Opens in Europe.
‘i really wanted him on the team and i was like, is this really the right move?’ said Bjorn. ‘so, he finishes runner-up in the John Deere and then wins the Open at carnoustie the week after that. He sent me a text, saying, “that good enough for you?”’
When asked for the decision he took that made the most difference, Bjorn did not hesitate. ‘it has to be the wildcards,’ he said.
Bjorn revealed that all four were fixed in his mind long before he made his public announcement. all four knew well in advance, although he admitted the controversial decision to pick sergio Garcia was not an easy one.
‘i called sergio and said if you play four times, how many points are you going to give me, and he replied three,’ said Bjorn.
‘that was before i selected him. i was pushing him. i knew how badly i wanted him on the team but there were guys playing a lot better and that made it difficult. in the end we outlined a plan together. He told me what he was going to do to enable him to get three points, and he came here and delivered.’
Bjorn, whose other wildcards were Henrik stenson, paul casey and ian poulter, added: ‘One of the things about my four picks is they are all great drivers of the ball, and that’s so important around this course. the other three knew a while ago they were in the team. i think one of the keys to captaincy is knowing your players inside out, and i know that Henrik likes structure and something he can work towards. i knew that when he took one of the FedEx events off, he wasn’t worried about his elbow, he was doing what he needed to do to get ready for the Ryder cup.
‘When paul came back and joined the tour and did so well at the Eurasia cup in January, i knew he could fit well into a team environment again. as for poults, how could you not pick him with his Ryder record, and his comeback this year?’
Bjorn had a special word for his protege thorbjorn Olesen, who sat out saturday’s two sessions before showing his talent with a thumping singles win over Jordan spieth. ‘i’m proud of all the team but, as he’s a friend and a Dane, i’m particularly proud of what he did yesterday.
‘it was so tough to leave him out on saturday because i’m close to him and in my heart, i wanted to play him five times. But in my head, i had to go with what was right for the team. the fact he channelled his disappointment the right way to beat Jordan says a lot about his character.’
Bjorn’s successor will be announced over the winter, but everyone knows it will be padraig Harrington. as one of the five committee men who will rubber-stamp that decision, Bjorn gave the irishman, who was one of his vice-captains last week, an enthusiastic endorsement.
‘He’d be brilliant as a captain,’ he said. ‘He’s got all the tools and all the knowledge. But let’s leave that decision for a couple of months.’
What is the man who has lived in London for the past 15 years going to do with himself now he has time on his hands again?
‘i think it might be a couple of months before i’m able to think about that,’ said Bjorn, smiling. ‘Right now, it feels as if it might be that long before i wake up.’