Thomas Bjorn

Bjorn and his older brother, Soren, who played on the Baylor University golf team, were introduced to the game early in life by their mother, a 5-handicap player. Bjorn turned professional in 1993 and spent two years in the U.S. playing mini-tour events before gaining his European Tour Challenge Tour card. He won four times in 1995, was named Challenge Tour Player of the Year, and moved to the European Tour. He was European Rookie of the Year in 1996 after posting a victory at Loch Lomond, making him the first Dane to win on the European Tour. Winner of the Danish Amateur in 1990 and 1991. Member of 1997, 2002, and 2014 Ryder Cup Teams. In the 2004, 2010, and 2012 Ryder Cups, he was vice-captain to winning captains Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie, and Jose Maria Olazabal. He captained Continental Europe in the Vivendi Trophy with Seve Ballesteros in 2009. Has served as chairman of the European Tour's Tournament Committee since 2007. Translated, his surname means "Bear" in Danish.
2011 Notes: Had a resurgence with three European Tour victories, winning the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, and the Omega European Masters. The Gleneagles' triumph was all the more impressive given that he emerged victorious from a five-man, five-hole playoff. He also won the following week in Crans-sur-Sierre.
2012 Notes: Made 22 starts on the European Tour with seven top-10 finishes.
2013 Notes: Earned his first European Tour victory in two seasons when he captured the Omega European Masters. The Switzerland tournament was also his last victory in 2011, giving him 14 European Tour titles in his 20 professional wins. Shot a final-round 65 at Crans-sur-Sierre GC in Crans, Montana, to force a playoff with Craig Lee. He secured the title on the first extra hole, No. 18, by making a birdie. He finished second at the ISPS Handa World Cup in Melbourne, Australia, two shots behind Jason Day. In the team competition with Thorbjorn Olesen, he finished third, 12 shots behind Australia's winning total.
2014 Notes: Captured the biggest paycheck of his career (euro795,338 or $ 1,081,910 USD) in winning a 15th European Tour title at the Nedbank Golf Challenge to begin The 2014 Race to Dubai. Finished T-3rd in the BMW PGA Championship, his first top-five since the Nedbank. Added five more top-10 finishes for a total of seven on the European Tour. Finished 12th on the European Tour's final Race to Dubai standings. At the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland, he went 0-2-1 in his three matches en route to Europe's five-point victory over the U.S.
2015 Notes: Played in 21 European Tour events making 13 cuts. An ongoing back injury had hampered him, but despite the back, he finished 4th at the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters on the Asian Tour. His best finish on the European or PGA Tour was T-11th at the BMW PGA Championship; his back got better starting the summer. He finished 87th in the Race to Dubai with earnings of euro345,698.
2016 Notes: Played in 15 European Tour events making 8 cuts. Their best finish was T-11th in his first start of the year at the Abu Dhabi Championship. He had his worst finish in the Race to Dubai 151st, but the year was highlighted by him being named Ryder Cup Captain for 2018 at Le Golf National in Paris.
2017 Notes: Played in 20 European Tour events, best finish, T-15th at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open. It was 143rd in the Race to Dubai.
2018 Notes: Played in 10 European Tour events making 10 cuts. Best finish T-30th Abu Dhabi Championship. He was the winning captain at the Ryder Cup, with the Europeans beating the Americans 17 and a half to 10 and a half.
2019 Notes: Played in 20 European Tour events making six cuts with one top-ten. He was T-8th at the Andalucia Masters.
2020 Notes: Played in 13 DP World Tour events making four cuts. Best finish T-31st at the ISPS Handa UK Championship.
2021 Notes: Played in 12 DP World Tour events making two cuts. Best finish, T-31st in the Made in Himmerland. I turned 50 and played in three Legends Tour events. Won the Irish Legends and was T-3rd at the Farmfoods European Legends Links Championship.
2022 Notes: Played in 16 DP World Tour events making six cuts. Best finish T-25th in the Italian Open. Played in two Legends tour events, won the MCB Tour Championship - Mauritius, and was T-34th in the Senior Open.