Bjorn excited to see Woods in Ryder Cup

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — Tiger Woods returning to the United States team after a six-year absence will make golf ’s showdown even better, according to Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn.

“He brings so much greatness to the game of golf,” Bjorn told The Associated Press in an interview Saturday, two weeks before the action in France.

A runner-up finish at the PGA Championship last month behind Ryder Cup teammate Brooks Koepka ensured a resurgent 42year-old Woods won selection from Bjorn’s counterpart Jim Furyk.

It’s an eighth Ryder Cup appearance, and the first since 2012, for Woods whose only win was in 1999. He has a losing record overall though won four of seven duels in singles.

“For such a big event you want big personalities, big profiles. I’m excited about seeing that American team. I’m excited about seeing Tiger back in the fold,” Bjorn said in France at the Evian Championship women’s major.

The Sept. 28-30 event at Le Golf National in the south-west suburbs of Paris is a rare chance for French fans to watch Woods close up.

How Furyk chooses to use Woods is not open to speculation by Europe’s captain. Bjorn, who won all three Ryder Cups he played in, was a vice captain in 2004 and saw an opening day Woods-Phil Mickelson pairing backfire at Oakland Hills with two losses.

“Whatever (Tiger) brings to the American team, and all that, that’s for the Americans to answer and Jim to deal with,” Bjorn said. “I focus on our 12 and what they do.”

Instead, the 47-year-old Dane is “quite excited” about his five rookies — compatriot Thorbjorn Olesen, Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood and Alex Noren.