Ideal start for Bjorn in bid to seal Ryder spot

Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn overcame testing conditions and an encounter with overhead power lines to make the perfect start to his bid to seal a Ryder Cup place on home soil.

Bjorn has not played in the biennial contest since 2002 but has occupied an automatic qualifying spot since winning the Nedbank Golf Challenge in December last year.

The 43-year-old dropped out of the European points list recently and is now relying on the world points list, but looks to have done enough to make the European team which will defend the trophy at Gleneagles.

Victory in the inaugural Made In Denmark event would make absolutely certain and Bjorn was determined to impress a sell-out crowd, with more than 70,000 expected at Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort, where Bjorn won his first event as a pro in 1995.

And the world number 24 duly delivered, carding a flawless opening 66 to share the lead with Chile’s Felipe Aguilar and Welshman Bradley Dredge on five under. Fellow Dane Thorbjorn Olesen was three behind after a 69.

Best of the Irish is Peter Lawrie, who shot a one under 70. Damien McGrane and Michael Hoey shot 73s