Thomas Bjorn's Ryder Cup career as player and vice-captain
By Keith Jackson
Last Updated: 06/12/16 3:29pm
Thomas Bjorn has enjoyed incredible success in the Ryder Cup since he made his playing debut in 1997, although his winning run came to an end at Hazeltine National earlier this year.
Bjorn played in the contest three times, winning four points from his nine matches, and he has also served as assistant captain on four further occasions.
He first qualified for the European team just four years after turning professional, and he was unbeaten for the team led by Seve Ballesteros as he partnered Ian Woosnam to a fourballs win in day two before claiming what proved to be a priceless half in his singles against Justin Leonard.
Bjorn missed out on the team in 1999, but he returned under Sam Torrance in 2002 and won two of his four matches, including an impressive victory over Stewart Cink on the final day after two defeats in the foursomes while partnering Darren Clarke.
He did not qualify for the team again for another 12 years, but he made it a hat-trick of Ryder Cup wins as a player although he only managed to contribute half a point from his three matches at Gleneagles.
The Danish veteran has also served as assistant captain four times, the first under Bernhard Langer in Europe's record-breaking nine-point victory in Detroit in 2004.
Bjorn was a member of Colin Montgomerie's backroom team at Celtic Manor in 2010, and he again assisted in a European victory in the memorable Miracle at Medinah two years later.
But after being a part of six winning European teams, Bjorn tasted defeat for the first time at Hazeltine National, and he has now been charged with the task of winning the Ryder Cup back.
Overall playing record
Played: 9, Won 3, Lost 4, Halved 2
1997, Valderrama:
Day 2 fourballs - Bjorn/Woosnam bt Leonard/Faxon 2&1
Singles: Bjorn halved with Leonard
2002: The Belfry:
Day 1 fourballs - Bjorn/Clarke bt Woods/Azinger 1hole
Day 1 foursomes: Bjorn/Clarke lost to Sutton/Verplank 2&1
Day 2 foursomes: Bjorn/Clarke lost to Woods/Love III 4&3
Singles: Bjorn bt Cink 2&1
2014: Gleneagles:
Day 1 fourballs: Bjorn/Kaymer halved with Fowler/Walker
Day 2 fourballs: Bjorn/Kaymer lost to Spieth/Reed 5&3
Singles: Bjorn lost to Kuchar 4&3
