Bjorn closing in on Ryder Cup spot

Thomas Bjorn hopes he can seal his Ryder Cup place on home soil this week at a venue where he claimed his first professional win almost 20 years ago.

Bjorn has not played in the biennial contest against the United States since 2002, but has occupied an automatic qualifying spot since winning the Nedbank Golf Challenge in December last year.

The 43-year-old dropped out of the European points list recently and is now relying on the world points list, but looks to have done enough to make the European team which will defend the trophy at Gleneagles in September. Including this week, only three qualifying events remain before the nine automatic qualifiers are decided at the end of the Italian Open on August 31st.

European captain Paul McGinley then names his three wild cards on September 2nd.

"I feel like I've played a lot of golf and I would like to think by the end of Denmark I'm set for the Ryder Cup, but if I'm not I'll have to reconsider," Bjorn said.

The inaugural Made In Denmark event has sold out with more than 70,000 spectators expected at Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort, where Bjorn won on the Challenge Tour in 1995.

That was one of four wins which ensured he finished top of the Challenge Tour rankings that season, although he admits he struggles to remember much about it.

“This is a challenging course,” Bjorn said yesterday.

“Its a long golf course and tough. It provides a lot of opportunities as well, though. You have to have an all-round game to succeed.

‘Bomber’s paradise’

“It is not a bomber’s paradise but it’s not by any means a tactician’s golf course either.

“Certain elements of the course will suit one player and certain elements will suit another.

“The course has changed completely since I was here in 1995 so it is a different track really. But I have some nice memories of that win obviously, if I can remember that far back.

“Its nice to come back to a place where you have had success before, but that doesn’t always mean anything in golf.

It is the game of the week that is important, not the game of yesteryear. You have to go out and do it this week.”

Bjorn will spearhead a strong home challenge which also features the likes of Morten Orum Madsen, Thorbjorn Olesen, Soren Kjeldsen and Anders Hansen. "Its been a while since we have had a tournament in Denmark (the Nordic Open was won by Ian Poulter in 2003) and from all angles it looks like it is going to be a successful event," Bjorn added.