Doubting Thomas is Bjorn again in Forest flourish

AFTER a couple of years of near mental collapse, Thomas Bjorn bounced back to the top in the glorious sunshine at the Forest of Arden, Warwickshire, yesterday.

The 34-year-old Dane saw off Englishmen Brian Davis and David Howell in a play-off in the Daily Telegraph/Dunlop Masters to pick up a prize for €417, 753 and capture his first title since the 2002 BMW International in Munich.

Bjorn was so depressed by his failure to finish off the job at the Open that he dropped down the rankings to such an extent that his only involvement in last year's Ryder Cup team was as one of Bernhard Langer's lieutenants.

During that same season he walked off the course at The K Club during the Smurfit European Open claiming that he was being "devoured by his demons."

"I was under a lot of stress last year because I wondered if I had lost the knack of winning tournaments and going to the Ryder Cup knowing that I didn't deserve to be in the side," said Bjorn, who is now third in the order of merit.

After it had seemed like a non-event for the Irish contingent for two days, they suddenly came good over the weekend to raise hopes that they can at last make their presence felt on home soil at Carton House. Darren Clarke, for instance, played the first nine in 30 shots but faded on the way home for a 67 while Graeme McDowell and Paul McGinley shot 66 and 68 respectively.

When McGinley unleashed a 3 iron into the wind at the 214 yards 18th, and saw the ball come to rest 2 feet 9 inches from the hole, he had mixed feelings about the consequences of his majestic shot. Jaguar, one of the subsidiary sponsors of the tournament, were offering one of their S-Type 2.7 litre diesel cars (worth €60,000) for nearest the pin and in normal circumstances the Dubliner would have been ecstatic.

However, he was subsequently overtaken by Oliver Wilson of England, whose shot pulled up One foot 9 inches away and McGinley was almost as well pleased! "I'm sponsored worldwide by BMW so it could have been a little embarrassing," he explained.

How Clarke would love to have been able to say the same, given the manner in which he played himself into a winning position after an opening nine of 30 and then moved to within a stroke of then leader Campbell with a birdie at the long 12th.

His wife Heather was in the gallery, looking very well as she continues her battle with cancer.

Gary Murphy was next best of the Irish on one under par as he added a 71 yesterday to an excellent 68 on Saturday, highlighted by a hat-trick of birdies to finish.

He tied for 11th to pick up €40,956 and improve to 78th in the order of merit with €75,164. That still leaves Murphy with some work to do to retain his card.