Who's who: Thomas Bjørn

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Thomas Bjørn

  • Name:

    Thomas Bjørn
  • Country:

    Denmark
  • Born:

    Feb 18, 1971 in Silkeborg, Jutland, Denmark.
  • Original/Home Club:

    Silkeborg, Denmark
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer; course designer.
  • Turned Pro:

    1993

Roll of Honour

Ryder Cup player (1997, 2002, '14). Ryder Cup captain (2018). Multiple wins on the European, Sunshine and Japan Tours. European Tour Rookie of the Year (1996).

Golf course design

Bjørn worked with Rick Baril on the design of Lyngbygaard Golf, Denmark. Other projects include designing changes to the Dubai Creek course in UAE.

Did you know?

Thomas Bjørn has established himself as Denmark's most successful golfer of all time, and one of the European Tour's top players. His career on the Tour got off to a flying start in his rookie season, with a win at the 1996 Loch Lomond World Invitational. The following year he became the first Dane to play in the Ryder Cup, and later was appointed the first Scandinavian to captain the European Ryder Cup team (2018).

Bjørn has been a serious contender for Major honours, not least at the 2003 Open Championship, when he held a 2 shot lead with three holes to play. Alas for Thomas the greenside bunker at Royal St George's 16th hole cost him a double-bogey and golf's most coveted trophy went instead to rookie American, Ben Curtis.

A big football fan, Bjorn (whose surname means 'bear' in Danish) is a supporter of Liverpool Football Club (nickname 'The Reds').

Top tournaments won by Thomas Bjørn

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Bjorn, Thomas

Score

196 (-20)

Prize money

€78,100

Title sponsor

MCB

MCB Tour Championship - Mauritius (Dec 9-11; European Senior Tour 2022 season-ending event). Second-placed James Kingston (RSA) and Simon P. Brown (Eng) finished 7 shots behind Thomas Bjørn (Den), who recorded his second European Senior Tour win. Kingston's second-place finish gave him enough points to secure the Tour's Order of Merit title for the 2022 season. [Legend course, Constance Belle Mare Plage, Post de Flacq, Mauritius].

2021
Europe
198 (-15)
€45,000
McGinley Foundation

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Bjorn, Thomas

Score

198 (-15)

Prize money

€45,000

Title sponsor

McGinley Foundation

Played as the Irish Legends presented by the McGinley Foundation (Aug 20-22; last played in 2010, as the Irish Senior Open). 50-year-old Thomas Bjørn (Den) beat Phillip Price (Wales) with a birdie at the second playoff hole, to record his first European Senior (Legends) Tour win in his third start on the Tour. [Old Tom Morris Links, Rosapenna Resort, Downings, Co. Donegal, Ireland].

2013
Europe
264 (-20)
€366,660
Omega

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Bjorn, Thomas

Score

264 (-20)

Prize money

€366,660

Title sponsor

Omega

Played as the Omega European Masters (Sept 5-8; Eurpn/Asian Trs event). Bjørn (Den) beat Craig Lee (Scot) with a birdie at the first playoff hole. [GC Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans-Montana, Switzerland].

2013
Africa
268 (-20)
$1,250,000
Nedbank

Category

Africa

Winner (holder)

Bjorn, Thomas

Score

268 (-20)

Prize money

$1,250,000

Title sponsor

Nedbank

Played as the Nedbank Golf Challenge (Dec 5-8; Eurpn/Sunshine Trs event; Eurpn Tr 2014 season; limited field of 30 top tour professionals). Second-placed Jamie Donaldson (Wales) and Sergio Garcia (Esp) finished 2 shots behind Bjørn (Den), who shot a final round 7-under-par 65 to claim victory. [Gary Player CC, Sun City Resort, North West Prov, South Africa].

2011
Europe
264 (-20)
€333,330
Omega

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Bjorn, Thomas

Score

264 (-20)

Prize money

€333,330

Title sponsor

Omega

Played as the Omega European Masters (Sept 1-4; Eurpn/Asian Trs event). Second-placed Martin Kaymer (Ger) finished 4 shots behind Bjørn (Den), who recorded a final day 62 to claim back-to-back wins on the European Tour. [GC Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans-Montana, Switzerland].

2011
Europe
277 (-11)
€266,629
Johnnie Walker

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Bjorn, Thomas

Score

277 (-11)

Prize money

€266,629

Title sponsor

Johnnie Walker

Played as the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles (Aug 25-28). Bjørn (Den) won a five-way playoff beating George Coetzee (RSA) at the fifth playoff hole. Bernd Weisberger (Aut) was eliminated at the first extra hole; Pablo Larrazabal (Esp) at the second and Mark Foster (Eng) at the fourth. [PGA Centenary Course, Gleneagles, Perthshire].

2011
Europe
274 (-14)
€303,114
Commercialbank

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Bjorn, Thomas

Venue

Doha GC

Score

274 (-14)

Prize money

€303,114

Title sponsor

Commercialbank

Played as the Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy (Feb 3-6; European Tour event). Second-placed Álvaro Quirós (Esp) finished 4 shots behind Thomas Bjørn (Den). [Doha GC, Qatar].

2010
Europe
265 (-23)
€166,660
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Bjorn, Thomas

Score

265 (-23)

Prize money

€166,660

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Estoril Open de Portugal (June 10-13; European Tr event; played for the last time until 2017). Second-placed Richard Green (Aus) finished 5 shots behind Thomas Bjørn (Den), who recorded his first European Tour win for four years. [Penha Longa Resort, Sintra, Portugal].

2006
Europe
283 (-5)
€366,660
Nissan

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Bjorn, Thomas

Score

283 (-5)

Prize money

€366,660

Title sponsor

Nissan

Played as the Nissan Irish Open (May 18-21). Second-placed Paul Casey (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Bjørn (Den). [Montgomerie Course, Carton House, Maynooth, Co. Kildare].

2005
Europe
282 (-6)
€417,750
Daily Telegraph/Dunlop

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Bjorn, Thomas

Score

282 (-6)

Prize money

€417,750

Title sponsor

Daily Telegraph/Dunlop

Played as the Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters (May 12-15). Bjørn (Den) beat David Howell (Eng) with a par at the second playoff hole. Brian Davis (Eng) was eliminated at the first playoff. [Arden course, Forest of Arden CC, Meriden, nr Birmingham].

2003
Japan
272 (-12)
¥40million
Dunlop

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Bjorn, Thomas

Score

272 (-12)

Prize money

¥40million

Title sponsor

Dunlop

Played as the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament (Nov 20-23; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Daisuke Maruyama (Jpn) finished 2 shots behind Bjørn (Den), who won this event for the second time. [Phoenix CC, Miyazaki, Japan].

2002
Europe
264 (-24)
€300,000
BMW

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Bjorn, Thomas

Score

264 (-24)

Prize money

€300,000

Title sponsor

BMW

Played as the BMW International Open (Aug 29-Sep 1). Second-placed John Bickerton (Eng) and Bernhard Langer (Ger) finished 4 shots behind Thomas Bjørn (Den), who won this event for the second time in three years. [Golfclub München Eichenried, nr Munich, Germany].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Bjorn, Thomas

Score

266 (-22)

Prize money

€265,153

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Dubai Desert Classic (March 1-4; European Tour event). Second-placed Padraig Harrington (Ire) and Tiger Woods (USA) finished 2 shots behind Thomas Bjørn (Den). [Majlis course, Emirates GC, Dubai, UAE].

2000
Europe
268 (-20)
€250,000
BMW

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Bjorn, Thomas

Score

268 (-20)

Prize money

€250,000

Title sponsor

BMW

Played as the BMW International Open (Aug 31-Sep 3). Second-placed Bernhard Langer (Ger) finished 3 shots behind Thomas Bjørn (Den), who recorded his fifth European Tour win. [Golfclub München Eichenried, nr Munich, Germany].

1999
Europe
273 (-15)
US$100,000
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Bjorn, Thomas

Score

273 (-15)

Prize money

US$100,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Sarazen World Open (Oct 14-17; Eurpn Tr event, previously played from 1994-98 in the USA). Second-placed Paolo Quirici (Sui) and Katsuyoshi Tomori (Jpn) finished 2 shots behind Thomas Bjørn (Den). [Stadium course, Camiral G&W Resort, Caldes de Malavella, nr Girona; at the time called PGA Catalunya].

1999
Japan
270 (-14)
¥40million
Dunlop

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Bjorn, Thomas

Score

270 (-14)

Prize money

¥40million

Title sponsor

Dunlop

Played as the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament (Nov 18-21; Japan Tr event). Bjørn (Den) beat Sergio Garcia (Esp) with a birdie at the fourth playoff hole (par-5 18th) to claim his first Japan Tour win. Bjørn's first prize equated to US$377,000. [Phoenix CC, Miyazaki, Japan].

1998
Europe
267 (-21)
£91,660
Peugeot

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Bjorn, Thomas

Score

267 (-21)

Prize money

£91,660

Title sponsor

Peugeot

Played as the Peugeot Open de Espana (April 23-26). Second-placed Greg Chalmers (Aus) and José María Olazábal (Esp) finished 1 shot behind Bjørn (Den). [Real (Royal) GC El Prat, El Prat de Llobregat, nr Barcelona Airport. Club now located in Terrassa, nr Barcelona].

1998
Aus/NZ
280 (-8)
£108,935
Heineken

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Bjorn, Thomas

Score

280 (-8)

Prize money

£108,935

Title sponsor

Heineken

Played as the Heineken Classic (Jan 29-Feb 1; Aus/Eurpn Trs event). Second-placed Ian Woosnam (Wales) finished 1 shot behind Thomas Bjørn (Den), who recorded his second European Tour win. [The Vines Resort & CC, nr Perth, Aus; composite of Lakes & Ellenbrook courses].

1996
Awards
£292,478
see Score
Eurpn Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Bjorn, Thomas

Venue

Score

£292,478

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

Eurpn Tr

Bjørn (Den) won the European Tour 1996 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award as the leading first-season player. Bjørn finished 10th on the Tour's Order of Merit, with earnings of £292,247.

1996
Europe
277 (-7)
£125,000
Loch Lomond

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Bjorn, Thomas

Score

277 (-7)

Prize money

£125,000

Title sponsor

Loch Lomond

Played as the inaugural Loch Lomond World Invitational (Sept 19-22; subsequently designated as the second Scottish Open of 1996; played at Loch Lomond, the host venue for the next 14 Scottish Opens). Second-placed Jean Van de Velde (Fra) finished 1 shot behind 25-year-old Thomas Bjørn (Den), who recorded his first European Tour win. [Loch Lomond GC, Luss, Dunbartonshire].

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