GOLF: Denmark's Thomas Bjorn won the BMW International Open for the second time in three years yesterday, again denying Bernhard Langer victory in the only tour event on German soil he has failed to win.
Bjorn carded a final-round 66 for a 24-under-par total of 264 at Nord-Eichenried and a four-shot victory over Ryder Cup team-mate Langer and England's John Bickerton.
Another Englishman Ian Poulter, himself on standby for the Ryder Cup, shared fourth place with Welshman David Park, with Richard Bland a shot further back after a bogey on the last.
On a weekend when Colin Montgomerie was rated as only 50/50 to play at The Belfry, Padraig Harrington (who finished with successive 68s) revealed he would have a scan on his ankle injury and Phillip Price missed the cut, the form of Bjorn, Langer and Poulter was the perfect boost for captain Sam Torrance, who ironically pulled out after nine holes on Thursday with a back injury.
"I'm sure Sam is sitting at home very happy," said Bjorn, who beat Langer by three shots two years ago. "It was good that we went out head to head. That's the feeling you need to get, you need that sensation of how hard it is playing under pressure."
Bjorn and Langer played together on all four days and could be asked to pair up again in less than four weeks' time at The Belfry. "Playing with Bernhard would be great," added Bjorn after picking up the winner's cheque for £191,771 (€300,000) and moving to 13th on the Volvo Order of Merit.
"He is a great professional because he plays sensible golf. Sometimes it drives people crazy because it takes a long time but he is very professional! Because he is that good and has so much experience he will be needed to partner someone else and if I can go in with a lot of confidence I can help someone else. That is for Sam to decide. But there is nobody on that team that I can not play with."
Langer, who will make his 10th Cup appearance at The Belfry, added: "There is a chance to play with Thomas at the Ryder Cup and I would be very happy to because he is very likeable and we get on very well. "What happens here is not really relevant to what happens in four weeks' time, that's when we have to play well again, but it's certainly a confidence boost for the Ryder Cup.
Bjorn, 31, began the day with a two-shot lead and was always in control after three birdies in four holes from the third.
Another birdie on the ninth took him out in 32 and extended his lead to three shots, and after his only bogey of the day, on the 10th, he responded superbly with another brace of birdies.
Langer, who has won every European Tour event in his home country at least twice apart from this one, had also picked up four birdies on the front nine and chipped in to save par on the fifth after duffing his third shot.
But he was not so fortunate after another fluffed chip on the eighth, and after matching Bjorn's bogey on the 10th the veteran German was never able to get within striking distance of his playing partner.
It was then left to Bjorn to finish in style with a birdie from 10 feet on the 18th to seal his seventh tour title.
"My game started to come together in America last week and I felt very comfortable coming here," added Bjorn. "I know I can play well on this course and I just stuck my head down and concentrated and focused 100 per cent on me and no one else."
Paul McGinley, keen to find some form in the run-up to the Ryder Cup, was disappointed with a final round of 74, especially after a third round of 66.
