Bjorn relives near miss at ‘great course’ Baltusrol

Dane tantalisingly close last time New Jersey venue hosted year’s final major

The last time Baltusrol staged the US PGA Championship in 2005, Thomas Bjorn equalled the lowest score in major championship history on his way to finishing second.

But anyone asking the 45-year-old Dane to recount the details of that achievement ahead of the tournament’s return to the New Jersey venue this week is in for a disappointment.

“I read the other week it was going back to Baltusrol and I hadn’t really thought about it,” he said.

“Then I started thinking about that 63 and I remember nothing! I remember nothing from the round because all my memories are about Sunday and going into Monday and playing those few holes on Monday morning.”

Bjorn’s seven-under-par 63 in the third round was achieved via birdies on the second, fourth and fifth, a bogey on the seventh and further birdies on the 10th, 11th, 14th, 15th and 18th.

He was a shot behind Phil Mickelson and Davis Love heading into the final round, which was not completed on Sunday due to a thunderstorm.

Tiger Woods had set the clubhouse target on two under par before play was suspended with the leader Mickelson facing a par putt on the 14th green to remain four under.

With Baltusrol’s last three holes consisting of a 230-yard par three and par fives measuring 650 and 554 yards anything was possible, but Woods – in a heavily criticised move – flew home to Florida on Sunday evening.

Twelve players returned to the course on Monday morning and Bjorn resumed in the rough on the 15th and made bogey, but birdied the 17th and came to the last tied for the lead with Steve Elkington – who had completed a 71 – and Mickelson.

After splashing out from a bunker to 25ft, Bjorn’s birdie putt agonisingly lipped out.

“I hit a putt on 18 that couldn’t miss and I still don’t know how it missed. I don’t think I will ever find out,” he said.

In the group behind, Mickelson’s birdie putt was from just two feet after a superb pitch from short of the green and the left-hander duly tapped in to condemn Bjorn to a third runners-up finish in the majors.

“It’s such a great course and it’s a shame I’m not there this year,” he said.

Picture: Getty. Thomas Bjorn equalled the lowest score in major championship history on his way to finishing second the last time the US PGA was held at Baltusrol.