Thomas Bjorn will take the Ryder Cup his team won in Paris two years ago and walk 130 miles from Wentworth to Celtic Manor in Wales, next week. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

THOMAS Bjørn is set for one of the biggest challenges of his career when he embarks on a four-day 130-mile charity walk from Wentworth to Wales.

The walk will raise funds for Unicef UK’s Save Generation COVID appeal and the Golf Foundation as part of the European Tour’s Golf for Good initiative.

Inspired by the fundraising exploits of Sir Tom Moore during the COVID-19 lockdown, Bjørn will carry the Ryder Cup from the European Tour HQ at Wentworth, in Surrey, to Newport’s Celtic Manor.

The 2010 Ryder Cup venue is set to host two consecutive European Tour events starting next week, as part of the new UK Swing.

The 49-year-old Dane will set off from Wentworth on Thursday, August 13 – the first day of The Celtic Classic.

The captain of Europe’s winning Ryder Cup team two years ago plans to arrive at Celtic Manor on the final day of the tournament on Sunday.

He will then compete in the second tournament – the ISPS Handa Wales Open, on the Twenty Ten Course – where Europe memorably defeated the United States 14½-13½ 10 years ago.

Bjørn was one of Colin Montgomerie’s vice-captains in 2010, and the 15-time European Tour winner went on to lead Europe in a record Ryder Cup victory at Le Golf National in Paris, with the USA beaten 17½-10½, the largest winning margin in the event’s 92-year history.

He will now take on another formidable challenge in his Wentworth2Wales walk, which will raise money for Unicef UK and the Golf Foundation.

Both causes have special significance for Bjørn, who also intends to raise awareness of the health and wellness benefits golf can offer.

•Donations can be made by clicking here.

Thomas Bjørn will walk 30 miles a day during his four day walk from Wentworth to Celtic Manor – after being inspired by NHS fundraiser Sir Tom Moore. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Captain Tom Moore was inspiration

BJØRN explained how the idea of his Wentworth to Wales charity walk came about.

He said: “During lockdown I had started going on some long walks to regain a bit of fitness, and also because I find it relieves a lot of mental stress for me.

“It was around the same time that Captain Tom – now Sir Tom Moore – was doing his incredible walk for the NHS, and someone called me ‘Ryder Cup Captain Tom’.

“We had a bit of a laugh about it. But the more I looked at Sir Tom, the more I was genuinely inspired by what he was doing. So we came up with the idea of doing a fundraising walk of our own.

“We looked at potential routes and Wentworth to Wales made a lot of sense, although I have to admit I didn’t realise it was over 200km.

“It’s going to be very tough to do it in four days. But I suppose the whole point of doing it is that it’s not meant to be easy.

“If I am going to ask people to donate their hard-earned cash then I need to earn that donation.

“For me, walking between 10-12 hours a day for four consecutive days will push me to the limit.

“As a Dane, who has lived most of my adult life in the UK, I wanted to give something back both globally and locally.

“I feel that UNICEF’s Save Generation COVID appeal and the Golf Foundation are a perfect fit for that.

“I was reading some information from UNICEF recently and they say that coronavirus is the biggest global crisis for children since World War Two.

“And that without urgent action, the coronavirus threatens to reverse 10 years of progress on reducing the number of children dying from preventable causes.

“Like so many fundraising ideas, this all started as a throwaway comment which quickly grew into something which is now very real – and, to be honest, quite scary,” smiled Bjørn.

“And being able to raise some funds to help the game of golf continue to thrive as part of the European Tour’s UK Swing and through the Golf Foundation is something that means a lot from a personal point of view.

“Obviously I want to raise as much as possible. But no matter how much it is, hopefully it can raise awareness and help kids around the world.”

Support from sponsors to help good causes

BJØRN has already received significant support from BMW, Hilton Hotels, Wentworth Club and LetsGetChecked. who have provided COVID-19 testing resources for the European Tour.

The European Tour’s Golf for Good initiative aims to give back in three key areas:–
•Supporting the Communities where the European Tour plays
▪ Rewarding the true heroes, such as the front line workers
▪ Promoting the many health benefits that golf offers.

The Golf for Good initiative was launched at the start of the European Tour’s new UK Swing.

A total of £500,000 from the European Tour is being distributed equally between local charities at each tournament venue, plus charities chosen by the leading 10 players in a mini-Order of Merit, running across all six tournaments. which began at the British Masters at Close House last month.

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Thomas Bjørn – who led the Europe to victory in the 2018 Ryder Cup, in Paris – has joined the Euorpean Tour board, having chaired its Tournament Committee. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

THOMAS Bjørn has been appointed to the European Tour board as a non-executive director with immediate effect.

The 49-year old – who was nominated by the European Tour’s Tournament Committee – is the most successful Danish golfer in history, having also been the victorious Ryder Cup captain at Le Golf National in 2018.

Bjørn will bring important current player perspective to the board – 2020 is the Dane’s 25^th consecutive season as a European Tour professional, having made his first appearance in 1996.

During that time he also served as chairman of the tournament committee for a decade from 2007 to 2016, before stepping aside to concentrate on the build-up to his Ryder Cup captaincy triumph in France.

A staunch supporter of golf on the Continent and the European Tour throughout his career, Bjørn’s time as tournament committee chairman coincided with some of the most significant changes in the European Tour’s 48-year history.

The first one came in 2009 with the instigation of the Race to Dubai, a year-long campaign – which replaced the old Order of Merit – to crown Europe’s No. 1 golfer at Dubai’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

And after chairman David Williams took up the post in 2014 and Keith Pelley was appointed chief executive a year later, Bjørn’s tournament committee oversaw the establishment of the Rolex Series – the premium event category on the Tour’s international schedule.

Speaking after his appointment, Bjørn said: “I am delighted and honoured to be invited to join the board of the European Tour.

“I have lived and breathed the European Tour for the past 25 years and, in that time, I have always strived to do the best I could to progress both the Tour itself and its membership.

“The same will be the case on the board and I am looking forward to getting to work as soon as possible.”

Tour chairman David Williams said: “I’m delighted to welcome Thomas to our European Tour board.

“His stellar golfing career is well-documented, including his 2018 experience as a winning Ryder Cup Captain.

“He has always had our members’ interests at heart, and he will continue to do so on our board.”

Bjørn joins board at crunch time

THE appointment of Thomas Bjørn follows the death of former Euroepan Tour winner John O’Leary last month.

It comes at a time of great uncertainty for the professional game on both sides of the Atlantic.

While the PGA Tour announced a plan to resume its schedule in the USA from the middle of June – including the first four events being played behind closed doors – the European Tour is still contemplating what events it can salvage from the 2020 season.

So far nine events have been postponed – and which could still theoretically be rearranged later in the year – while another five have been cancelled completely, including the new event in Sweden – hosted by Henrik Stenson and Annika Sorenstam – which would have seen players from the Ladies European Tour competing alongside their male counterparts for one trophy and one prize fund.

The Irish Open – due to be held at the end of May – and July’s Scottish Open are two of the events the European Tour is most keen to resume, having said it will probably focus on producing a swing of events in the UK from September onwards.

The big question is if the BMW PGA Championship will still go ahead the week before the rearranged US Open at Winged Foot (September 17-20), if America requires a period of isolation for overseas golfers before they can compete in the USA.

Two other events planned for the UK are the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship – due to be played at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns from October 1-4 – and the Betfred British Masters, at Newcastle’s Close House.

The latter – which is being hosted by Close House’s touring professional Lee Westwood – is likely to be moved from early August to avoid a clash with the rearranged WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational, at Memphis’s TPC Southwind (July 30-August 2).

The third scheduled WGC event of 2020 – March’s WGC–World Match Play in Texas was cancelled – was moved to the week before the new date for the USPGA Championship at San Francisco’s TPC Harding Park (August 6-9)

The switch became possibley after the cancellation of the Toyko Olympics, freeing up that week when the Gold Medal would have been contested for just the second time in 116 years, at Kasumigaseki Country Club.

Former European Tour winner John O’Leary (right), who was director of golf at Buckinghamshire Golf Club before his death in April. Picture by TRISTAN JONES

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Thomas Bjørn, who captained Europe to victory in the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Paris Golf National, returns to Valderrama in May – where he made his debut against the USA, in 1997. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

RYDER Cup heroes Thomas Bjørn and Lee Westwood will return to the venue where they made their Ryder Cup debuts against the United States in 1997 when the European Tour returns to Spain in May.

The Ryder Cup winners have confirmed they will tee it up in the Estrella Damm NA Andalucía Masters – hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation – being held on the Costa del Sol, from April 30-May 3.

The pair made their Ryder Cup bows in the biennial contest between Europe and the United States, at Real Club Valderrama, 23 years ago when the hosts – captained by the late, great Seve Ballesteros – retained the coveted trophy with a 14½-13½ victory.

They contributed 3½ points to the European cause, as Westwood earned two points alongside Nick Faldo in foursomes and fourball matches, while Bjørn earned a half in the Sunday singles against Justin Leonard.

That added to the point he won with Ian Woosnam against Leonard and Brad Faxon.

Westwood is bidding for a European record-equalling 11th Ryder Cup appearance at Whistling Straits later this year.

The 46-year-old is just outside the qualification spots for Padraig Harrington’s side.

But Westwood, who is now based in the North East and will host the Betfred British Masters at Close House in late July, is currently second on the Race to Dubai Rankings after his victory at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, in January.

“There isn’t much you can say about Valderrama that hasn’t already been said,” said Westwood.

“It’s a fantastic golf course, and 1997 was very special because I made my Ryder Cup debut there and then won the Volvo Masters a few weeks later.

“It is an incredible test of golf, and it’s testament to Robert Trent Jones’ design that it has remained unchanged over the last 30 years.

“It’s a course that we all enjoy playing, and credit goes to Sergio Garcia and his foundation for helping to develop this tournament over the last four years.”

His close friend Bjørn is also looking forward to returning to the venue where his Ryder Cup journey began, culminating in his victorious captaincy two years ago at Le Golf National, Paris.

“Valderrama is an excellent golf course, and a test which we all enjoy returning to,” said the 15-time European Tour winner, who celebrated his 49th birthday earlier this month.

“To make my Ryder Cup debut in a side captained by Seve, in his home country, and at a world-class venue, was incredibly special.”

Lee Westwood, who is bidding to appear in his 12th Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, in September, was also in Seve Ballesteros’ side that beat the USA at Valderrama 23 years ago. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Bjørn captained Europe to a record Ryder Cup triumph in Paris, in 2018, to give Harrington the chance to defend the famous trophy in Wisconsin, in September.

Westwood, who hails from Worksop, in Nottinghamshire, and Bjørn will join a host of other European Tour stars at Valderrama, as the Estrella Damm NA Andalucía Masters returns to the famed Spanish venue in April.

Tickets are available, starting from €7 juniors and €15 for adults. Season tickets are available for the full week (€30 for juniors and €75 for adults), as well as weekend-only tickets (€15 and €40).

Click here to purchase tickets.

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Eurpoean captain Padraig Harrington will use his appearance at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic next month to make a check on the early front runners in the race for a Ryder Cup spot at Whistling Straits. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

EUROPEAN Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington will head to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in January, where he will be joined by his predecessor Thomas Bjørn and two-time winning assistant Miguel Ángel Jiménez.

The trio of European Tour legends join an already star-studded field, which sees the return of the tournament-record setting defending champion, Bryson DeChambeau.

Previous winners Rafa Cabrera Bello, Sergio Garcia, Haotong Li, Henrik Stenson and Danny Willett will also be in attendance, in addition to a string of other big names – including Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Ian Poulter, Matt Wallace and Lee Westwood.

The oldest tournament in the region and the longest running on the circuit outside of Europe will be played on the Majlis Course, at Emirates Golf Club.

The Majis was recently crowned the best in the Middle East by Golf Digest.

Harrington will make his eighth appearance at the Dubai Desert Classic next month, and will no doubt have a busy week assessing those in early contention for one of 12 Ryder Cup berths in September – a fact that does not escape the Irishman.

“The Omega Dubai Desert Classic is one of our most iconic events and one I cannot wait to return to,” said Harrington, who finished in a tie for second alongside Tiger Woods at this event in 2001, two shots adrift of Bjorn.

“There is a lot of golf to be played between now and Whistling Straits and, in that time, I hope to play with everyone who is in contention for the team.

“I can think of no better place to do so than Emirates Golf Club, so I’m looking forward it,” added the Irishman, who will arrive in the United Arab Emirates in search of his 16^th European Tour title.

Thomas Bjorn’s win in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, beating Tiger Woods down the stretch in 2001, is one of the tournament’s most famous wins. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Bjørn knows what it takes to triumph over Team USA, but with his experience in Paris behind him, 2020 provides a great opportunity for the “Great Dane” to demonstrate how he earned that moniker.

What better place than an event the 48-year old has tasted success at before having, some 18 years ago, played alongside Woods on all four days to deliver one of the event’s most iconic closing Sundays.

“I always love coming back to Dubai and the Desert Classic has so many great memories for me,” said Bjorn.

“To go toe-to-toe with Tiger and come out on top is not something many people can lay claim to, so it is a moment from my career that I will never forget.

“The Majlis Course is always in impeccable condition and it will be great to get out there again in January,” Bjorn added.

Jimenez’s 26th start in Dubai Desert Classic

No stranger to the Dubai Desert Classic, Jiménez – nicknamed The Mechanic – will make his 26^th appearance at the 2020 event, none more impressive than his winning display nine years ago.

That year the Spaniard, who was assistant to Jose Maria Olazabal in 2012’s Miracle of Medinah and two years later helping Paul McGinley’s side at Gleneagles, beat Westwood in extra holes.

Victory came some five years after Jimenez narrowly lost out to three-time winner Ernie Els, as the South African eagled the 72^nd hole to win by a stroke in 2006.

“I first played in this event back in 1991, so it has been amazing to come back virtually every year and see how much the place has changed,” said the 55-year-old, who won the Senior Open at St Andrews, in 2018.

Jimenez has seven victories in the States since joining the Champions Tour in 2014, including last year’s Regions Tradition Major to go with his 21 European Tour victories between 1992 and 2014.

“I have some amazing memories from my visits to Dubai and my win here is a stand-out for me,” added Jimenez, who won 14 of those European Tour titles in 10 years after turning 40.

“I still enjoy coming out and proving I have what it takes to keep up with the young guys, so I’m looking forward to doing just that in a few weeks,” said Jimenez, who is the oldest player to have won on the European Tour at 50.

Miguel Angel Jimenez playing in the 2019 Omega Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates’ Majis Course. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

The inaugural Omega Dubai Desert Classic was won by Yorkshire’s Mark James.

It has gone on to establish a roll of honour boasting some of the biggest names in golf over the past 30 years – including the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Fred Couples, Rory McIlroy, Colin Montgomerie and Woods.

Next month’s event will boast an exciting new “Tournament Town,” which will offer a first-class culinary experience and the latest in family entertainment.

With the four-day event set to be bigger and better than ever, there is still time to book daily, season or Terrace Hospitality tickets, with prices starting from 75 dirham.

•To purchase hospitality, season or daily tickets, go to: https://www.omegadubaidesertclassic.com/buy-tickets/

For more information on the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, visit: https://www.omegadubaidesertclassic.com/

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Shubhankar Sharma is aiming to follow Justin Harding into the World’s top 50 when he defends his title this week. Picture courtesy of Maybank Championship

SHUBHANKAR Sharma is feeling relaxed about his Maybank Championship title defence, as the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year aims to build on a stellar debut season on the European Tour.

The 22 year old burst on to the scene with two early victories on the 2018 Race to Dubai, following up his maiden win at the Joburg Open with his biggest victory yet, coming from four shots back to take the title at Saujana Golf and Country Club.

With two trophies in his cabinet by early February, he cemented his status as Indian golf’s new rising star by playing in all four Major Championships and impressing on his World Golf Championships debut.

He famously lead the world-class WGC-Mexico Championship field by two shots going into the final round before posting an impressive top 10 finish.

Sharma said: “I have some very special memories from last year. It just feels like yesterday that I won here.

“I made that putt on 18 and was waiting in scorers for the rest of the field to finish.  It’s great to come back – it was my biggest win.

“I love the course here. I had a good finish the year before last when I finished top 10.

“I actually just love Malaysia as a country. I love the people and the heat doesn’t get to me, which is good.

“Hopefully I can draw on the good memories and play well this week.

“I definitely feel like I’ve become a better player from last year.

“Obviously I have more experience. I’ve played some of the biggest events in the world, I played in all of the Majors last year.

“In two of those Majors I was actually playing in front of Tiger, so the biggest crowds I have ever seen. It’s good that I’ve seen all of those situations.

“I’m much more relaxed now, but you don’t want to get too relaxed when you are playing. These are some of the best players in the world and you have to be 100 per cent.

“But I’ll definitely be more comfortable than I was last year playing in the marquee group.”

Sharma is joined in the field in this week’s co-sanctioned Maybank Championship by Jazz Janewattananond, another young player – who has impressed on both the European Tour and Asian Tour and has aspirations of challenging the best in the world in the near future.

The 23-year-old Thai claimed his third Asian Tour title at the Singapore Open in January to break into the top 100 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Jazz said: “I was fortunate to crack the top 100 this soon. It was always in the back of my mind to take the next step and get into the top 50.

“This is going to be a big week, if I can play good this week I have a chance of cracking the top 50 sooner.

“Seeing the likes of Justin Harding is very inspiring. We played a lot together last year. Now that he is in the top 50 he’ll have a better chance of getting into the Masters.

“To see someone close to you do that is very inspiring and it gives you a boost and confidence that you can do it too.

“I’m feeling really good. I had a couple of good finishes coming in to this week. It’s always nice to come back to Malaysia.

“I love this city, I love the skyline, I love the street food here. I’m enjoying myself out here and we’ll try to move that into the golf course as well.”

Janewattananond is aiming for a good finish this week to help propel him towards his next aim of following his friend and recent South Africa’s European Tour winner Justin Harding into the top 50.

Also teeing it up the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur this week are three-time Major winner and current European Ryder Cup Captain Padraig Harrington and his victorious predecessor Thomas Bjørn – as well as American Kurt Kitayama, who has emulated Sharma this year by racing to two European Tour victories in his rookie season.

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Commercial Bank Qatar Masters winner Justin Harding is looking for a second title in a row at the Magical Kenya Open. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

JUSTIN Harding is looking to win back-to-back titles on three different golf tours by claiming victory at the Magical Kenya Open this week.

The South African, who won on the European Tour for the first time at last week’s Qatar Masters, has triumphed on five occasions in the last ten months, with back-to-back victories coming on both the Sunshine Tour, and the Asian Tour, last summer.

Such a remarkable run has catapulted the 33-year-old, who has won 11 professional titles worldwide, from outside the top 500 in the world to World No. 52 over the course of 12 months, leaving Harding with a good chance of qualifying for next month’s Masters Tournament.

Harding said: “It would have been an unbelievable thought 12 months ago to think that I’d have a chance of qualifying for Augusta. I have to pinch myself now when I think about it. I still have to take it a week at a time though and see if we can maybe get there.

“I was here last year for the Karen Masters, a Sunshine Tour event, and it is a lovely little golf course which is old school and very strategic. You will probably find the guys are going to make a bunch of birdies, and I am looking forward to this week.

“I don’t know how it [winning back-to-back twice] worked out like that. I have been playing really consistent golf and have managed to put myself into position on several Sundays then managed to get it right.

“Hopefully we can put three rounds together again and then go out and make some birdies on Sunday to be in contention again.”

Also in the field this week is the triumphant 2018 Ryder Cup Captain Thomas Bjørn, who returns to Nairobi for the first time in 24 years since finishing as a runner-up in the 1995 edition of the long-running event  – which celebrates its 51st anniversary by hosting a European Tour tournament for the first time.

The captain of Europe’s record Ryder Cup winning team against America at Le Paris National in September said “I have really good memories of Kenya.

“It is very different coming back now as I’m a lot older, and a lot more has happened, but I have good memories from coming here in 1995 as a 24-year-old.

“I always felt like I wanted to come back, and now there was an opportunity for me to do so, so it’s great to be here. I am really looking forward to the week.

“As a Dane it is also really interesting coming here because of the name of Karen Country Club and it’s heritage and association with Karen Blixen.

“When I grew up in Denmark I went to see the Karen Blixen museum in Copenhagen, and there has always been a relationship between Danes and this place – which is quite interesting.

“It’s not something that a lot of people think about but for us when we come here we definitely feel a connection with the place.

“Kenya has so much to offer and although the main focus is playing in the golf tournament, I am trying to take in a bit more of what this place has to offer.”

Three of the last four Kenya Open champions all return to the Kenyan capital – South Africa’s Haydn Porteous, Sweden’s Sebastian Soderberg and Italy’s Lorenzo Gagli.

Porteous said: “Coming back to the place where I had my first win as a professional means I have lots of sweet memories. I feel at home being back in Africa.

“There’s the same altitude, the same grass and hopefully we’ll have the same result this week.

“It was important for me to not only win as a professional, but to also win against some of Europe’s best on the Challenge Tour.

“I feel that I grew a lot as a player after that and it gave me the confidence to move on to the European Tour – I would credit that victory with helping me to become a multiple winner on the European Tour.”

Gagli will look to defend the title he lifted at neighbouring Muthaiga Golf Club 12 months ago, when the event was part of the European Challenge Tour’s International Schedule.

The Italian said: “It’s amazing to come back to Kenya. I have a lot of good memories from last year so I’m really excited to play here again.

“The prize giving was really fun last year, there was a lot of people and the president of Kenya, it was really special to be there.

“I love Kenya and Africa. The people are amazing here.”

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