Ice in Bjorn’s champagne win
An ice-cool demeanour is a trait that seems to run in the blood of people from the Scandinavian countries and the most recent example is Thomas Bjorn and his showing at the Nedbank Golf Challenge over the weekend.
MAJOR AMBITION. Nedbank Golf Challenge winner Thomas Bjorn of Denmark has his eye on a Major title in 2014. Picture: Gallo Images.
The 42-year-old Dane made the most of one or two lucky breaks, although his golf was consistently good through the four-day tournament, to secure the
$1.25-million winner’s cheque and his name on the glass trophy.
“I had a lot of heart-stopping moments? I have heart-stopping moments every day I play this game,” Bjorn said after securing his second European Tour win for the year.
“I obviously have a demeanour on the golf course, do not show a lot of emotion, there is a lot going through your mind and a lot going through your body on the golf course.
“I probably look a bit calmer than I am, but it was hard-fought,” he said.
A win at the end of the year, although the Race to Dubai has already started, means that Bjorn will carry confidence into 2014 and he admits that it’s a proposition he is looking forward to, especially with a Major still in his sights.
“The golf I played this week was so good and I take that with me. I am 42, every year a new season starts and you think if this is going to be the season where it will not go so well. So to start my 40s like this is just unbelievable. I am very proud of that.
“I want to keep going even though I have been playing for a long time and this just fits me on the way to things in 2014 where I can go into the season and really feel like I can compete with the best in the world and that is the best feeling you can have,” he added before reflecting on his year.
“It has been a good year. I finished top 10 in the Race to Dubai. That is always a good performance.
“I did not compete as well as in the Majors as I wanted to, but we are going into a new season and I look forward to try and compete in some of those, but in total it just has been a good year.
“I have been happy with the way I played, I have had a really good stretches of tournaments and capped it off with a very good season and a very good year and I am proud and happy that I could finish off like this.”
It’s been said that life begins at 40 and it’s clear to see that Bjorn is proving that adage right.
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