Irish Open: Like a boxer on the ropes for what seems like an eternity, Thomas Bjorn has always shown his own brand of resilience. He's never knocked out, never one to lie down.
In this latest, weather-hit edition of the Nissan Irish Open at Carton House, no one demonstrated a greater instinct for survival than the Dane, who finally had reason to celebrate a PGA European Tour win on Irish soil.
After all, Ireland has tantalised and mocked too frequently in the past. Like when he lost a play-off for this title to Michael Campbell in 2003. Like when his head was so full of swirling demons in the European Open at The K Club in 2004 that he walked in off the course after just six holes.
Like when he held a four-shot lead going into the final round of last year's European Open and proceeded to take an 11 on the 17th on the way to a closing 86.
This time, Bjorn did things in reverse. After an opening round 78 that started on Thursday and finished on Friday, Bjorn bounced back with rounds of 66-67-72 for 283, five-under, to claim his ninth European Tour win and really kick-start his drive for an automatic place in the Ryder Cup team for the match in September.
Incidentally, he also equalled the tour record for a high start by a winner, established by George Burns when he won the Kerrygold International at Waterville in 1975.
Bjorn's winning cheque for €366,660 moved him to fourth on the Order of Merit, but has propelled him to 11th in the world points list and 10th in the European points table for the Ryder Cup, just one place outside an automatic spot.
"If I want to be on the team, I think I might have to play my way in," Bjorn said. "Woosie's in a situation where he is going to need his two wild cards. In saying that, it is not life-or-death for me, but I would like to be there for the only reason that I know I am playing the right sort of golf."
Given his travails of recent months, this win was a particularly "special" one for Bjorn. He took ill on the final day of last year's Seve Trophy matches and, then, was forced to withdraw midway through the WGC-American Express in San Francisco with a temperature of 104 degrees and was hospitalised for three days.
Then, in early-February, he withdrew from the Accenture Matchplay in San Diego due to a recurrence of a neck injury and didn't play again until the Players Championship at Sawgrass in March.
"It's been a hard time for me," admitted Bjorn, who had sought out his mental guru, Jos Vanstiphout, after his horrible opening round here.
"Every time I've felt I can get going, I've been set back by either illness or injury. You see yourself slipping in the Order of Merit, and you see yourself slipping in the Ryder Cup standings.
"I've slipped, but at least this win opens opportunities for me. It was important for me to open that door again. There's no guarantees, there's a lot of people want to make the team, but at least the opportunity is there now."
By the end of a tournament badly hit by the weather, ranging from high winds on Thursday to heavy rain that forced Sunday's final round to be brought into an unscheduled fifth day's play yesterday, the leaderboard that saw Bjorn finish ahead of Paul Casey and Darren Clarke was one of true quality.
"It was last man standing in the end," said Bjorn, adding: "This is a major boost for me with the US Open coming up, to know that I'm working on the right things and know my golf is going in the right direction.
"I just have to keep on that track, instead of desperately trying to find something new to get myself ready (for Winged Foot next month)."
