Bjorn has no great expectations

Thomas Bjorn was second in last year’s American Express Championship but admits there is no chance of a repeat performance in San Francisco this week.

Bjorn spent three days in hospital last week after being taken ill with a viral infection during the Seve Trophy a fortnight ago.

The Dane was forced to miss the Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland but has made the long trip to Harding Park to compete in the £4.2m (€6.3m) event in which he finished runner-up to Ernie Els 12 months ago.

“It was a borderline decision to come here because it was a long trip but I have got two weeks off after this so I will have a nice week and let the golf be whatever it is,” Bjorn told PA Sport.

“The illness came on slowly on Sunday afternoon at the Seve Trophy and I started feeling really poor on the plane home. I went home and saw my own doctor at 8pm but at midnight we had to call an ambulance. I was in a really bad way with a high fever, my temperature was over 104 degrees.

“I spent three days in the hospital and they got it under control. I had some bacteria in the blood vessels. I had had a really severe case of tonsillitis and they think it came from that but they are not 100% sure.

“I then had a couple of days at home in bed and decided on Sunday I was just going to come here and make it a relaxing week. My brother Soren lives in Oakland and my parents are over visiting him anyway so it’s a nice week to enjoy.

“I am not looking for anything but just to play four rounds of golf and enjoy myself.”