Thomas Bjørn celebrated his 500th European Tour start at Himmerland
Thomas Bjørn, 2018 European Ryder Cup captain, celebrated his 500th European Tour start in style at Made in Denmark.
Thomas Bjørn made his 500th European Tour start on Thursday at the Made in Denmark. He said of this very special day, “It was just a day I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”
Fans and players alike, led by Martin Kaymer’s caddie, gathered around the 16th green and paid tribute to the Great Dane. Their serenade and look-alike masks left no doubt that Thomas Bjørn in Denmark’s hometown golf hero.
It was quite a day for Denmark’s most successful golfer and the gallery was effusive with appreciation.
Bjørn is big @LFC fan, so the crowd, led by Kaymer's caddie, sing You'll Never Walk Alone to him on 16...#MiDGolf pic.twitter.com/n3WJoTkbV3
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) August 24, 2017
Beginning with his rookie year victory at the 1996 Loch Lomond World Invitational, when he became the first Dane to win a European Tour event, through his debut Ryder Cup appearance in 1997, where he was again the first Dane to play on the Ryder Cup, through his 2018 Ryder Cup captaincy, Thomas Bjørn has played for Denmark as well as for himself.
I have lived and breathed the European Tour . . .
Over the course of his 20-year pro golf career Bjørn has defeated some of the best in the game. Bernhard Langer, Tiger Woods, Ian Woosnam, José Maria Olazábal, Padraig Harrington, Bernd Wiesberger, Martin Kaymer, Jamie Donaldson, and Sergio Garcia have all succumbed to his attacks.
Bjørn has made five World Cup and three Ryder Cup appearances. He sponsors the Thomas Bjørn Open, a Challenge Tour event that’s played in Denmark.
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Bjørn added another “first Dane” to his résumé when he was named captain of the European team for the 2018 Ryder Cup.
Thomas Bjørn is more than prepared to take on the task of guiding the Europeans to victory at Le Golf National. He’s served for times as a vice-captain and he’s made 14 French Open starts on the Parisian track.
Known for what Colin Montgomerie has described as his “combustible and fiery” competitive nature, Bjørn could well provide Team Europe’s critical ingredient. Bjørn and his team will be looking for redemption from and revenge for their 17-11 loss at Hazeltine.
Jim Furyk and the Americans will not easily break through the European resolve
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Steve Webster, Matt Wallace, and Wade Ormsby set the pace at Made in Denmark at 7-under par and go into cut day with a one-shot edge over the field. Golf Channel begins 2nd round broadcast of the event at 5:30am ET on Friday, August 25.