Bjorn named European Ryder Cup captain

Thomas Bjorn has been named Europe's Ryder Cup captain for 2018.

Bjorn became the first Danish player to represent Europe when he qualified for Seve Ballesteros' winning team in 1997, just a year after winning the first of his 15 European Tour titles at the Loch Lomond World Invitational, and he went on to win one-and-a-half points from his two matches at Valderrama.

He took two points from his four matches at The Belfry in 2002, while he earned half a point against Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker during the 2014 Cup at Gleneagles.

He served as vice-captain under Bernhard Langer in 2004, Colin Montgomerie in 2010, Jose Maria Olazabal in 2012 and Darren Clarke at Hazeltine National earlier this year.

“It’s a huge honour for me to be named European captain for The 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris. This is one of the greatest days in my career," the new European skipper said.

“I studied a lot of captains as a player and as a vice captain and always wondered what that feeling would be like to be the one leading out a team of 12 great players. Now it’s my turn to do just that and it is an exciting moment for me.

“I have lived and breathed the European Tour for so long, and now I will do the same with The Ryder Cup for the next two years. I’m very much looking forward to taking on this task.”

The 45-year-old, who is only the fourth man from outside the Britain and Ireland to captain Europe, had emerged as the favourite to lead Europe's bid to regain the Samuel Ryder Cup at Le Golf National once Padraig Harrington and Lee Westwood ruled themselves out of the running.

The five-man selection committee of the last three captains - Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Jose Maria Olazabal - as well as the European Tour's chief executive Keith Pelley and Open Champion Henrik Stenson, chose the Dane ahead of 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie.

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour, speaking on behalf of the Ryder Cup Europe selection panel, said: “We are delighted to announce that Thomas has accepted the invitation from the panel to captain Europe at The 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in Paris.

“Thomas has many wonderful characteristics which he will bring to the role of captain. Firstly, he is incredibly experienced having played in three winning Ryder Cup teams and having been a vice captain four times. He also has commitment. We have seen that over the last nine years as Tournament Committee chairman, so we know as Ryder Cup captain he will have the same unwavering commitment.

“Thirdly, he has passion. Not only for this wonderful game, but for the European Tour and Team Europe and he wants the Ryder Cup to be the greatest sporting event it can be. So when you look at his these characteristics, I am convinced they will make him great Ryder Cup captain.”

Setanta Sports is now eir Sport. We have 6 great channels of live sport including eir Sport 1 & 2 and all 4 BT Sport channels. The eir Sport pack is free to all eir broadband customers. To learn more about setting sport free visit www.eir.ie/sport .