Bjorn happy with hectic schedule

Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn insists golf’s hectic year-round schedule is “good and healthy” for the game.

Bjorn is competing in this week’s UBS Hong Kong Open, already the third event on the 2006 European Tour schedule.

Two further events in South Africa over the following fortnight means the season does not end until December 18, and less than three weeks later Bjorn will be back in action in the Royal Trophy – a new team event in Bangkok from January 7-8.

The proliferation of lucrative events in Euope and America mean prestigious tournaments such as the World Match Play have struggled to attract top-class fields, despite a staggering first prize of £1m (€1.5m).

“We have to accept we have people at the tour that try to give us the opportunity to play as many weeks as possible,” Bjorn said.

“We do not have the chance to finish the year in Europe because of the weather so we have to come to other places.

“The European Tour has had the foresight to take the game worldwide and it is for the players to decide which tournaments they want to play. You can play 50 weeks a year and that is good and healthy for the game of golf.

“The youngsters have to be careful because there is so much available, so much opportunity and it is so easy when you do not have any responsibilities to just play anytime.

“But later in your career you might suffer from it. You get tired and fed up with the game. But the tour is doing the right thing, giving you the opportunity and it is for you to make that decision.”

The Royal Trophy features two eight-man teams representing Europe and Asia in a similar format to the Ryder Cup and Seve Trophy.

Bjorn admits the date is not ideal, but added: “I enjoy team golf and we have a responsibility to provide entertainment in Asia because Asia and the Asian Tour does a lot for us.

“I have had a lot of success here and enjoy being here so I felt when it was offered to me I could not say no. The date is a little bit awkward but you cannot always pick and choose the date for tournaments and if tournaments like that are going to survive they need great support, it is as simple as that.

“I thought it was important we had a team that goes there with good expectations.”

A further complication of the 2006 schedule sees the World Match Play staged the week before the Ryder Cup, a situation Bjorn warned against earlier this season.

“I just think it can be difficult for one player that goes to the final and plays for £1million and then has to go the week after to the Ryder Cup,” added the 34-year-old.

“I know that is a high and you have to take them when they come, but the Ryder Cup comes at a time in the season when you have played so much golf.

“We all know how tired the players are after the Ryder Cup, there is no secret about that. Every single player cannot wait for the year to finish when the Ryder Cup is over. You are done.”