Classic Captain

AT LEAST ONE FORMER CHAMPION WON’T MIND IF HE’S UPSTAGED ON THE MAJLIS

- Kent Gray

Of the 10 former winners set to tee it up in the 29th Omega Dubai Desert Classic, none have a more epic champions’ tale to tell than Thomas Bjørn - or perhaps less chance of winning again this year. The great Dane is at peace with that; average to lousy golf is apparently the penance you pay to realise the dream of becoming a Ryder Cup captain.

Just ask Darren Clarke who will also be playing at Emirates G.C. After making only three of 11 cuts during the year of his Hazeltine captaincy and going a miserable 0-12 on the European Tour last season, the Northern Irishman can at least see green shoots of recovery as he eyes next year’s Champions Tour following regular remedial work with Dubai coach Justin Parsons.

“Everything that people say about it is true, and it’s a lot more than you think it will be,” Bjørn says of the difficult transition from European Tour player to European Ryder Cup captain.

The 46-year-old, who famously tamed Tiger Woods to win the Dallah trophy in 2001 – a year after the then world No.1’s career-defining nine win season - is trying to separate his own game from the captaincy but it’s easier said than done.