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Thomas Bjørn

Danish professional golfer

Field	Value
name	Thomas Bjørn
image	Thomas Bjorn 2011 Omega European Masters.png
imagesize	200px
caption	Bjørn after winning the 2011 Omega European Masters
fullname	Thomas Bjørn
nickname	The Great Dane
birth_date
birth_place	Silkeborg, Denmark
death_date
height
weight	88 kg
nationality
residence	Silkeborg, Denmark
Gothenburg, Sweden
children	4
yearpro	1993
tour	European Tour
PGA Tour Champions
European Senior Tour
extour
prowins	25
pgawins
eurowins	15
japwins	2
asiawins	2
sunwins	1
auswins
nwidewins
chalwins	3
champwins	2
seneurowins	2
otherwins	1
majorwins
masters	T8: 2014
usopen	T22: 2001
open	T2: 2000, 2003
pga	T2: 2005
wghofid
wghofyear
award1	Challenge Tour
Rankings winner
year1	1995
award2	Sir Henry Cotton
Rookie of the Year
year2	1996
awardssection
module	{{Infobox person	embed=yes
signature	Thomas_Bjørn_signature.jpg

Gothenburg, Sweden PGA Tour Champions European Senior Tour Rankings winner](challenge-tour-rankings-winners) Rookie of the Year](sir-henry-cotton-rookie-of-the-year) Thomas Bjørn (born 18 February 1971) is a Danish professional golfer who plays on the European Tour. He is the most successful Danish golfer to have played the game having won fifteen tournaments worldwide on the European Tour. In 1997 he also became the first Dane to qualify for a European Ryder Cup team. He captained the winning European side at the 2018 Ryder Cup.

Professional career

Bjørn started his career playing on the Challenge Tour from 1993 to 1995. In 1995 he won four tournaments on the Challenge Tour to earn his card for his debut year on the European Tour in 1996. Bjørn made his breakthrough immediately winning his maiden tour title in his debut season at the Loch Lomond World Invitational. He became the first golfer from Denmark to win a tournament on the European Tour. He finished the 1996 season placed tenth on the Order of Merit.

The follow-up season in 1997 was steady with a number of top ten finishes without a win, however Bjørn did not have long to wait until his next win arrived. He won early in the 1998 season in Perth, Australia taking the Heineken Classic for his second European Tour title. Despite an over par final round of 74, Bjørn won by a single stroke from Ian Woosnam. In April 1998, after a five-week break from competitive golf, Bjørn won for the second time that year at the Peugeot Open de España after a final round 66 took him to 21 under and one stroke ahead of the chasing pack. He later said: "I didn’t really expect this after taking five weeks off, but when your confidence has gone like mine did after winning in Perth, it just shows it’s best to take a break and regroup." After his two wins he finished the year 6th on the Order of Merit.

After a winless period due to injuries and the birth of his first child, Bjørn returned to the winner's circle in October 1999 at the Sarazen World Open. This was his fourth career European Tour win and after an unspectacular year, he jumped up the standings to finish the season 14th on the Order of Merit.

He has finished in the top ten on the Order of Merit eight times with a best finish of fifth in 2000. He came close to winning a major championship at the 2003 Open Championship when he was in the lead with 4 holes to play before a slump handed victory to Ben Curtis. At the 2005 PGA Championship, he was tied for the lead before finishing as runner-up to Phil Mickelson in a second-place tie with Steve Elkington.

Bjørn picked up his first European Tour win in four years and 10th of his career in 2010 at the Estoril Open de Portugal, winning with a score of 23-under-par, five better than Richard Green. He followed this with three more wins at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters in February 2011, Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in August 2011, winning in a five-man playoff on the fifth extra hole, birdieing the final three holes and the Omega European Masters in September 2011. In December 2013, Bjørn won the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa. It was Bjørn's 14th career European Tour win.

Bjørn was a member of the winning European Ryder Cup teams in 1997, 2002 and 2014. He also captained the 2018 European Ryder Cup team, winning over the United States with 17½ points to 10½ at Le Golf National, Paris, France.

He made the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking for one week in 2001 after a second-place finish at the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.

In 2005 and 2006, Bjørn sponsored the Thomas Bjørn Open, an event on the Challenge Tour played in his home country. In 2007, Bjørn was elected chairman of the European Tour's tournament committee. In May 2022, Bjørn was named vice-captain by Team Europe's captain Henrik Stenson for the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome.

Bjørn's last name is sometimes written Björn or Bjorn outside Denmark. The Danish (and Norwegian) letter 'ø' represents approximately the same sound as 'ö' in German and Swedish. Literally translated, his surname means bear in Danish.

Personal life

Bjørn has three children, Filippa and twins Oliver and Julia with his former wife Pernilla. Bjørn currently resides in London. Perth-born air stewardess Dagmara Leniartek had a five-year affair with Bjørn. Bjørn initially cut relations with Leniartek and denied he was the father of her daughter. However, Danish media reported a DNA test had subsequently proved Bjørn was the father of the child – a girl named Isabella.

Bjørn is a football fan and a keen follower of Liverpool F.C. Alongside football he also states his other interest to be movies.

Professional wins (25)

European Tour wins (15)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of
victory	Runner(s)-up
1	22 Sep 1996	Loch Lomond World Invitational	−11 (70-68-69-70=277)	1 stroke	FRA Jean van de Velde
2	1 Feb 1998	Heineken Classic	−8 (70-68-68-74=280)	1 stroke	WAL Ian Woosnam
3	26 Apr 1998	Peugeot Open de España	−21 (68-67-66-66=267)	1 stroke	AUS Greg Chalmers, ESP José María Olazábal
4	17 Oct 1999	Sarazen World Open	−15 (66-69-70-68=273)	2 strokes	CHE Paolo Quirici, JPN Katsuyoshi Tomori
5	3 Sep 2000	BMW International Open	−20 (69-63-69-67=268)	3 strokes	DEU Bernhard Langer
6	4 Mar 2001	Dubai Desert Classic	−22 (64-66-67-69=266)	2 strokes	IRL Pádraig Harrington, USA Tiger Woods
7	1 Sep 2002	BMW International Open (2)	−24 (68-64-66-66=264)	4 strokes	ENG John Bickerton, DEU Bernhard Langer
8	15 May 2005	Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters	−6 (73-68-73-68=282)	Playoff	ENG Brian Davis, ENG David Howell
9	21 May 2006	Nissan Irish Open	−5 (78-66-67-72=283)	1 stroke	ENG Paul Casey
10	13 Jun 2010	Estoril Open de Portugal	−23 (67-65-65-68=265)	5 strokes	AUS Richard Green
11	6 Feb 2011	Commercialbank Qatar Masters	−14 (74-65-66-69=274)	4 strokes	ESP Álvaro Quirós
12	28 Aug 2011	Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles	−11 (68-69-71-69=277)	Playoff	ZAF George Coetzee, ENG Mark Foster,
ESP Pablo Larrazábal, AUT Bernd Wiesberger
13	4 Sep 2011	Omega European Masters1	−20 (68-68-66-62=264)	4 strokes	DEU Martin Kaymer
14	8 Sep 2013	Omega European Masters1 (2)	−20 (66-66-67-65=264)	Playoff	SCO Craig Lee
15	8 Dec 2013
(2014 season)	Nedbank Golf Challenge2	−20 (67-70-66-65=268)	2 strokes	WAL Jamie Donaldson, ESP Sergio García

1Co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour

2Co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour

European Tour playoff record (3–2)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	2003	Deutsche Bank - SAP Open TPC of Europe	IRL Pádraig Harrington	Lost to par on first extra hole
2	2003	Nissan Irish Open	NZL Michael Campbell, SWE Peter Hedblom	Campbell won with birdie on first extra hole
3	2005	Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters	ENG Brian Davis, ENG David Howell	Won with par on second extra hole
Davis eliminated by par on first hole
4	2011	Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles	ZAF George Coetzee, ENG Mark Foster,
ESP Pablo Larrazábal, AUT Bernd Wiesberger	Won with birdie on fifth extra hole
Foster eliminated by par on fourth hole
Larrazábal eliminated by par on second hole
Wiesberger eliminated by par on first hole
5	2013	Omega European Masters	SCO Craig Lee	Won with birdie on first extra hole

Japan Golf Tour wins (2)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of
victory	Runner-up
1	21 Nov 1999	Dunlop Phoenix Tournament	−14 (69-66-68-67=270)	Playoff	ESP Sergio García
2	23 Nov 2003	Dunlop Phoenix Tournament (2)	−12 (67-65-69-71=272)	2 strokes	JPN Daisuke Maruyama

Japan Golf Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent	Result
1	1999	Dunlop Phoenix Tournament	ESP Sergio García	Won with birdie on fourth extra hole

Challenge Tour wins (3)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of
victory	Runner(s)-up
1	11 Jun 1995	Himmerland Open	E (70-70-76=216)	Playoff	FIN Anssi Kankkonen, BEL Nicolas Vanhootegem
2	23 Jul 1995	Interlaken Open	−16 (64-71-65=200)	3 strokes	CHE André Bossert
3	28 Aug 1995	Coca-Cola Open	−8 (70-70-69-71=280)	1 stroke	SWE Freddie Jacobson

Challenge Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponents	Result
1	1995	Himmerland Open	FIN Anssi Kankkonen, BEL Nicolas Vanhootegem	Won with birdie on first extra hole

Other wins (1)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of
victory	Runner-up
1	13 Aug 1995	Esbjerg Danish Closed	−4 (73-75-64=212)	Playoff	DNK Ben Tinning

Other playoff record (1–1)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	1995	Esbjerg Danish Closed	DNK Ben Tinning	Won with birdie on first extra hole
2	2001	WGC-World Cup
(with DEN Søren Hansen)	− Michael Campbell and David Smail,
− Retief Goosen and Ernie Els,
− David Duval and Tiger Woods	South Africa won with par on second extra hole
New Zealand and United States eliminated by birdie on first hole

PGA Tour Champions wins (2)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of
victory	Runner(s)-up
5	8 Jun 2025	American Family Insurance Championship
(with NIR Darren Clarke)	−32 (59-58-64=181)	4 strokes	USA Doug Barron and USA Dicky Pride,
DEU Alex Čejka and DNK Søren Kjeldsen,
USA Steve Flesch and USA Paul Goydos,
USA Steve Stricker and USA Mario Tiziani
2	7 Sep 2025	Stifel Charity Classic	−12 (65-69-67=201)	Playoff	AUS Cameron Percy

PGA Tour Champions playoff record (1–0)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent	Result
1	2025	Stifel Charity Classic	AUS Cameron Percy	Won with birdie on first extra hole

European Senior Tour wins (2)

Legend
Tour Championships (1)
Other European Senior Tour (1)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of
victory	Runner(s)-up
1	22 Aug 2021	Irish Legends	−15 (67-66-65=198)	Playoff	WAL Phillip Price
2	11 Dec 2022	MCB Tour Championship (Mauritius)	−20 (68-61-67=196)	7 strokes	ENG Simon P. Brown, ZAF James Kingston

European Senior Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent	Result
1	2021	Irish Legends	WAL Phillip Price	Won with birdie on second extra hole

Results in major championships

Tournament	1996	1997	1998	1999
Masters Tournament				CUT
U.S. Open		T68	T25	CUT
The Open Championship	CUT	CUT	T9	T30
PGA Championship		T45	CUT	T70

Tournament	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
Masters Tournament	T28	CUT	T18		CUT	T25	T32	CUT
U.S. Open	T46	T22	T37	CUT	CUT	T52	T48	CUT
The Open Championship	T2	CUT	T8	T2	CUT	CUT	T41	T53
PGA Championship	3	T63	CUT	CUT		T2	CUT	T62

Tournament	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2017
Masters Tournament			T37	T46	T8	CUT
U.S. Open			CUT
The Open Championship	CUT	4	T54	T73	T26	CUT
PGA Championship		CUT	T48	CUT	CUT	T48	CUT

CUT = missed the half-way cut

"T" = tied

Summary

Tournament	2nd	3rd	Top-5	Top-10	Top-25	Events	Cuts made
Masters Tournament	0	0	0	1	3	12	7
U.S. Open	0	0	0	0	2	12	7
The Open Championship	2	0	3	5	5	18	11
PGA Championship	1	1	2	2	2	16	8

Most consecutive cuts made – 6 (1999 Open Championship – 2000 PGA)
Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (2000 Open Championship – 2000 PGA)

Results in The Players Championship

Tournament	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
The Players Championship	T22	CUT	T22		T22	WD	69								CUT

CUT = missed the halfway cut

WD = withdrew

"T" indicates a tie for a place

Results in World Golf Championships

Results not in chronological order prior to 2015.

Tournament	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
Championship	T59	T40	NT1	T27	T28	2	WD	T41	T11	T28	T24		T44	WD
Match Play	R32	R16			R64	R32	R64		R64	R32	R64	R64	R32
Invitational		T10	T31	T15	T61		18	T18		T68	T40		T15	69
Champions				T42	T21	T39	T41

1Cancelled due to 9/11

WD = Withdrew

QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play

"T" = Tied

NT = No tournament

Note that the HSBC Champions did not become a WGC event until 2009.

Team appearances

Amateur

Jacques Léglise Trophy (representing the Continent of Europe): 1988
European Youths' Team Championship (representing Denmark): 1990
St Andrews Trophy (representing the Continent of Europe): 1990
European Amateur Team Championship (representing Denmark): 1991
Eisenhower Trophy (representing Denmark): 1992

Professional

World Cup (representing Denmark): 1996, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2013
Ryder Cup (representing Europe): 1997 (winners), 2002 (winners), 2014 (winners), 2018 (non-playing captain) (winners)

1997	1999	2002	2004	2006	2008	2010	2012	2014	Total
1.5	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	0.5	4

Seve Trophy (representing Continental Europe): 2000 (winners), 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 (non-playing captain), 2011, 2013 (winners)
Royal Trophy (representing Europe): 2006 (winners)
EurAsia Cup (representing Europe): 2014, 2018 (non-playing captain, winners)

References

(16 April 2013). "The Great Dane's Challenge Tour legacy". PGA European Tour.
(22 September 1996). "First Danish winner on the European Tour". PGA European Tour.
(26 April 1998). "Bjorn wins for the second time in two months". PGA European Tour.
(8 December 2013). "Nedbank Challenge: Thomas Bjorn wins by two shots in Sun City". BBC Sport.
[http://dps.endavadigital.net/owgr/doc/content/2007%20Stats/86TO0810.pdf 69 Players Who Have Reached The Top-10 In World Ranking]
(15 July 2001). "Official World Golf Ranking – Week 28 – 2001".
(22 March 2005). "Bjorn to sponsor new Danish event". [[BBC Sport]].
(2022-05-11). "Bjorn named Team Europe's vice captain for 2023 Ryder Cup". Reuters.
"Bjorn player profile". PGA European Tour.
Deceglie, Anthony. (14 August 2010). "WA hostie and the Danish golf star". Perth Now.
Greenslade, Nick. (21 September 2014). "Mamma mia! 'Barmy' Dane is Bjorn again". [[The Times]].
Sundling, Anders. (28 December 2015). "Thomas Bjørns talentfulde datter: Jul uden far".
"Bjorn a supporter of Liverpool F.C.". PGA European Tour.
(September 1990). "Hemmaseger i JEM-rysare, Lag-EM Juniorer".

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