Thomas Bjorn to captain Europe's Ryder Cup team in 2018
By Keith Jackson
Last Updated: 06/12/16 5:07pm
Thomas Bjorn has been announced as Europe's Ryder Cup captain for the next contest in France in 2018.
Bjorn has been handed the task of regaining the trophy following this year's heavy defeat at Hazeltine National under Darren Clarke, and the 45-year-old has a long - and successful - involvement with the competition.
The Dane's three appearances as a player all resulted in victories in 1997, 2002 and 2014, while he has also been an assistant captain four times, including vice-captain to Clarke in Minnesota.
Bjorn has previous captaincy experience and led Continental Europe to victory in the Seve Trophy in 2009 as a non-playing skipper, and he has also been heavily involved with the European Tour having served as chairman of the tournament players' committee since 2007.
He will become only the fourth skipper from continental Europe after getting the nod in a unanimous decision following a meeting of a panel comprised of former captains Clarke, Paul McGinley and Jose Maria Olazabal, European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley and tournament committee member Henrik Stenson.
Bjorn will become the first Dane, and the first Scandinavian, to lead Europe when the Ryder Cup returns to mainland Europe for the second time at Le Golf National.
The 15-time European Tour winner said: "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.
"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."
Pelley added: "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.
"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."
Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get six months half price
