Bjorn basks in European success

published 1 October 2012

There have been many famous moments for Europe in the Ryder Cup, but what took place at Medinah Country Club yesterday, with Europe mounting the greatest comeback away from home that the Ryder Cup has ever seen, is a contender as Europe's single greatest day in Ryder Cup history.

Thomas Bjorn, a veteran of two victorious European teams as a player, in 1997 at Valderrama in Spain and 2002 at the Belfry in England, served as one of four vice captains for Jose Maria Olazabal this year, as he did for Bernhard Langer in 2004 at Oakland Hills, and for Colin Montgomerie at Celtic Manor in Wales in 2010.

"The players themselves knew that they had let themselves down yesterday," started Bjorn, 41, the first Dane to play in the Ryder Cup. "They knew exactly what they wanted to achieve today. The players set out this morning with a point to prove. We knew we had to dominate the early matches for us to stand a chance, but what has just happened is unbelievable.

"The way we looked at it last night was that even though the Americans had a four-point lead, in order to win they had to get something out of five matches today. So that is nearly half the matches. That was the message we were trying to get across to the players last night. Each player knew he just had to get out there and get his point, but for the first five players all to win is amazing.

"Every single one of our players stood up today and refused to give up, and did whatever they needed to reach 14 points. To have finished with 14 ½ is just ridiculous. What has happened today - I don't think it will ever happen again."

Robin has worked for Golf Monthly for over a decade.