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Bjorn willing to remain as chairman

EUROPEAN TOUR PORTUGUESE OPEN: THOMAS BJORN has changed his mind about resigning as chairman of the European Tour’s powerful…

Thu Jun 10 2010 - 01:00

EUROPEAN TOUR PORTUGUESE OPEN:THOMAS BJORN has changed his mind about resigning as chairman of the European Tour's powerful players' committee. The 39-year-old Dane said last year he would step down after becoming frustrated at the decision to shelve a plan to increase the mandatory events players needed to compete in to retain a tour card.

It had been mooted that tour chief executive George O’Grady should take over as chairman but Bjorn is less than happy with that idea.

“I am still acting chairman and I’m still in a position where I do a lot of talking in discussions,” Bjorn said yesterday on the eve of the Estoril Open de Portugal. “There are quite a few guys who would be good at it but I’m not sure they’d want to do it. So maybe it would be best, if the committee wanted me, I stay on as chairman.

“Ive got a great relationship with George but I don’t think it’s the right way forward to have the chief executive as chairman and I don’t think the players do,” added Bjorn.

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“We want to have our say behind closed doors. We’ve got to have strong voices with what goes on on tour. If George, or any chief executive, starts chairing, then the players lose a little bit of identity of what the European Tour’s about.”

There is a reduced Irish contingent competing in Estoril this week with Darren Clarke, Damien McGrane, Simon Thornton and Gary Murphy in action. Michael Hoey, the defending champion, misses out due to illness.

Meanwhile, Des Smyth, will head a strong home challenge in the Handa Irish Seniors Open over the Montgomerie course at Carton House, starting tomorrow.

Smyth is joined in the field by Eamonn Darcy, Denis O’Sullivan, Christy O’Connor Jnr and Peter O’Hagan.

Estoril Open

Course: Penha Longa

Length: 6,904 yards. Par: 72.

Prizemoney: €1million, €166,660 for the winner.

Field: 135.

Defending champion: Michael Hoey

First played: 1973.

Most wins: 2 – Sam Torrance, Phillip Price and Paul Broadhurst.

On TV: Sky Sports 3, 11.30am.

Weather: Showery today but set to clear up to sunny conditions for the rest of the tournament.