Flashback: When Bjorn Wasn’t Captain Woosnam’s Biggest Fan

You know Thomas Bjorn is in full Ryder Cup captaincy campaign mode when he's congratulating old ("barmy") pal Ian Woosnam on his newfound World Golf Hall Of Fame status.

It's been a decade, but James Corrigan's story on Bjorn lashing out at then-Captain Woosnam from a decade ago makes for enjoyable reading, including the jab about not being burdened "with too many leadership qualities."

Amazingly, the issue was primarily over Lee Westwood getting a captain's pick with little-to-no consideration for Bjorn and others. How times haven't changed!

"So far his captaincy has been the most pathetic I have ever seen," said the 35-year-old, who is one of the European Tour's most respected players, and who is extremely popular throughout the Ryder Cup team room. "The man is barmy - to be captain and not communicate with a team or those in contention at all. I haven't spoken to him for six months, and then I find that I'm not in the team by watching it on television. How can that be right?"

This was nice too...

"I haven't heard a word off him for half a year, and I've spoken to several players who are on the team, and have been for a long time, and they haven't either," he said. "What sort of captaincy is that? I have lost all respect for him. My relationship with him is completely dead and will remain so. This will be the first time I don't even watch the Ryder Cup on television, and you don't know how sad that is, given how much I care for that tournament. I desperately want the 12 players to be a success, but I want them to do it in spite of the captain."

Ahhhh...but all is well now...that someone wants to be captain!

Comments

[ol Harv]

"This will be the first time I don't even watch the Ryder Cup on television, and you don't know how sad that is, given how much I care for that tournament. I desperately want the 12 players to be a success, but I want them to do it in spite of the captain."

Great qualities for a future captain. Letting one man piss you off so much you can't even watch an event you love.
Chico, I know how big a fan of Bjorn you are. How can he be "extremely popular" in the team room?

[Easingwold]

Bjorn's tweet to Woosnam seems a sweetener to cement his bid to be captain in France. His time on the board will probably seal it, I'm afraid.

[Willie]

Damn Google!

[Chico]

Ol Harv - yep I've had a good life in golf and have met some wonderful people. I've met a handful of total arseholes and Bjorn is way out on his own at the top of that pile. I know I am not the only one to share that view! Bjorn will only consort with people he sees as his equals so I would imagine he's all over his fellow Ryder Cuppers like a rash. How he kept his position on the players committe is beyond belief- he has a lot of enemies but obviously a nucleus of influential friends.

[Slight fade]

Paul McGinly has said that he is already out of the Euro Ryder Cup management, so hasn't Woosnam been out even longer which means he has no direct influence over Bjorn's selection? If so, then this is just Bjorn acting "Presidential".

[V.Lind]

Or maybe growing up, deciding life is too short for unnecessary animosities, becoming kinder and gentler? I don't know him, and I agree his carriage is on the arrogant side, but he has been consistently elected or appointed to this Board -- and I am sure the players have something to do with that. Perhaps without great affection, just respect for someone who will do the grunt work and get the job done. Not a bad Captain qualification.

And his remarks about absentee captains is a declaration that that would not be his way.

I suspect he is inevitable. In a way I would prefer Jimenez, bit cannot in conscience offer a substantiated view that he would be a better captain. And as he is now on the senior circuit -- though keeping his hand in on the main Tour -- his time may have come and gone. He would have been a better choice than Clarke, not because they lost but because he would probably have managed everything from picks to pairings better. The US would have won anyway, but Europe would not have looked so feeble.

[Smooth]

@Chico

Apparently Thomas doesn't suffer fools easily.

[Chico]

@ Smooth. I can easily come into the fool bracket if you wish. Many of the people who have been on the receiving end of his intolerance certainly aren't fools.

[Ivan Morris]

Not surprised and not impressed.