Bjorn on the brink of resigning

THOMAS BJORN is on the verge of resigning as chairman of the European Tour’s players committee just a week after his scathing attack on Pádraig Harrington.

The news came on the eve of the Portugal Masters, where both are playing, and also the day before a meeting of the committee to discuss a possible tightening up of Tour rules.

“I’ve been thinking about this for a while,” said Bjorn. “I’ve not officially resigned yet, but I am 90% there and it will take some convincing for me to continue. It’s absolutely not to do with Pádraig. To be fair to myself and my golf I have too much to deal with.

“It took its toll on Mark James and Jamie Spence and it’s taking a toll on me.”

Bjorn, who took a lengthy break from the game this summer and even had a brain scan because of dizziness and fatigue, also said he is likely to stay on the committee only if a new structure is put in place where it is not an active player who acts as chairman.

Harrington, not on the committee, has been invited to tonight’s meeting to air his views on the future of the Tour. To help a number of events in Europe through the economic crisis a debate had started on whether to ask players to make an increased commitment.

“I don’t believe in protectionism – I wonder if there may be a case for the European Union,” Harrington said on hearing of the suggestion.

Bjorn reacted to the comments last week by claiming: “I don’t know where Pádraig is coming from and he always uses the press. He would need to play only one more event here if this proposal goes through. That’s not asking a lot and for him to threaten going to the European Union is out of order. It’s his committee – he does not seem to understand that. He seems to think that he is above it.

“I don’t want to have a war of words with him, but we are a committee of 15 and that includes people like Monty (Colin Montgomerie), (Darren) Clarke, (Henrik) Stenson, (Robert) Karlsson, (Miguel Angel) Jimenez and (Paul) McGinley.

“They have all been out here a long time, so whose opinion are we going to give more weight to? He may have won three majors, but Monty has won eight Order of Merits and knows all there is to know about the Tour.”

Bjorn and Harrington met yesterday and both were adamant that their 14-year friendship will not be harmed. Harrington said: “I’m happy to throw my tuppence into any argument. Life would be no fun if we didn’t have dissension. That’s how good decisions get made.’’

But asked if he might now serve on the committee the three-time major winner commented: “I’m playing golf – I don’t have time to be on a committee.”

He also said it was coincidental that Bjorn’s likely resignation was coming so soon after their exchange. Harrington certainly seems to ready to fight his corner at the meeting, calling it “narrow-minded” if the focus is put on making sure events in Europe have better fields.

“We’ve got to embrace the world – we have to go global,” he stated. “The US tour is number one, Europe is number two and the only way a number two can compete with a number one is to merge with three, four and five – Asia, South Africa and Japan.

“Where is our greatest growth area going forward? It’s got to be Asia.”

Harrington and Bjorn now try to turn their thoughts to trying to win at Oceanico Victoria, but the main focus when the event gets under way will be the battle for the Order of Merit title.

Rory McIlroy tees off as the Tour’s number one and if the 20-year-old was to win on Sunday he will be more than €515,000 ahead of Martin Kaymer, whose return from injury is expected in Spain next week.