Bjorn and Harrington

Adiaga 2

Saw this on the BBC website today. I thought the headline would prove to be an exageration but having read the comments from Thomas Bjorn, it's not. Seems a bit tit for tat. I agree with Bjorn about these things playing out in the press but he has just added fuel to the flames with soem of his remarks.

Bjorn blasts Harrington comments
Thomas Bjorn has criticised Padraig Harrington after the Irishman's reported comments about a tightening of European Tour membership rules.

Bjorn, the European Tour's players' committee chairman, has suggested some high-profile names ought to increase their commitment to the European Tour.

Harrington was quoted as saying he may take the matter to the European Union.

But Bjorn responded: "For Padraig to threaten to go to the European Union is out of order."

The pair were Ryder Cup team-mates back in 2002, but the issue has quickly escalated after the calls for European players to play more events on their home tour.

Members of the European Tour currently have to play 11 events in order to be eligible to qualify for the end-of-season Dubai World Championship, and a minimum of 12 events to retain full Tour membership.

Like many players, Harrington plays on both the European and United States-based PGA Tour.

But the world number seven was not impressed with plans from European Tour chiefs urging members to commit to more events.

"I don't believe in protectionism - I wonder if there may be a case for the European Union," Harrington was reported to have said after learning of the plans.


But Bjorn was staunch in his defence of the proposals.

"He would need to play only one more event here if this proposal goes through. That's not asking a lot," said Bjorn.

"Pretty much everything we do is to protect our leading players, but as chairman I have to look at every member as an equal.

"I don't want to have a war of words with him, but we are a committee of 15 - and that includes people like Colin Montgomerie, Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Paul McGinley.

"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 also criticised Harrington for using the media to air his views, rather than approaching himself and the committee directly.

"He always uses the press," he said.

"He never comes to people on the committee and never will do. It's his committee - he does not seem to understand that. He seems to think that he is above it.

"We have discussions, he gets word of it and then he uses the press to slam the Tour.

"I find it disappointing that he does not come to me and talk. Instead he goes to the press and then it becomes a public discussion." Story from BBC SPORT

Mister Sifter

Will be interesting to hear Harrington's retort to this but going on what's been said so far, Bjorn makes a good point about Harrington doing his talking through the media at times.

Daithio9

Lmao the irony of it all.

L.O.F.T

Harrington has only been “reported” as making the comments so I think if what Thomas Bjorn says is true we should see a response from Harrington to Bjorn’s comments……...via the press!
But its a little pot kettle black as Bjorn has also retorted via the press and can’t take the moral high ground on this argument. There is also the side that Harrington has simply responded to a question when asked, we know he usually speaks his mind and I think the bigger story will come to light when Harrington responds to Bjorn’s comments

Aidric

Daithio9 wrote: »

Lmao the irony of it all.

My exact thoughts when I read this first. It's obviously lost on Thomas though.

Jersey Girl

Wait for tomorrow's Indo when Harrington's voice piece 'Karl McGinty' will give his side of the story. The Indo never see any wrong with Harrington and never have a go at him. Bjorn has a valid point as Harrington always uses the Irish media to get things off his chest. The Irish media pack, particularly your man from the Indo, take everything says as face value and never question him. Sure didn't Harrington invite the Irish golf media to write a chapter each in his book so as to stay on side with them.

BombSquad

Adiaga 2 wrote: »

Harrington was quoted as saying he may take the matter to the European Union.

But Bjorn responded: "For Padraig to threaten to go to the European Union is out of order."

From the Indo today:

"I don't believe in protectionism -- I wonder if there may be a case for the European Union," Harrington had been quoted as saying.

He's hardly threatening to go to the EU. Bjorn overreacting as usual. Ryder cup outbursts, walking off the course after 6 holes at the K club and now this. What a muppet.

BombSquad

L.O.F.T wrote: »

There is also the side that Harrington has simply responded to a question when asked, we know he usually speaks his mind and I think the bigger story will come to light when Harrington responds to Bjorn’s comments

I'd say you're dead right on this, just a case of Harrington responding to a question and not seeking out the media to threaten EU action.

NaiveMelodies

Daithio9 wrote: »

Lmao the irony of it all.

Explain the irony, im not functioning today

Ruu_Old

Don't see the need of Bjorn bringing up the major wins and who won what. Stupid really, storm in a tea cup.

Daithio9

only1stevo wrote: »

Explain the irony, im not functioning today

Did you read the OP?

NaiveMelodies

Daithio9 wrote: »

Did you read the OP?

Ha yes i see.

ShriekingSheet

only1stevo wrote: »

Ha yes i see.

Nope, I've read the OP and still don't get it...

PhilipMarlowe

"I find it disappointing that he does not come to me and talk. Instead he goes to the press and then it becomes a public discussion." Story from BBC SPORT

conman

Thomas Bjorn is always moaning.

i wonder if he is simply jealous of Padraig since Padraig and he battled it out for rookie of the year many moons ago, and our boy has come out as a major player...

Im sure he will have another reason to be angry at woosnam or the future European ryder cup captains..

Ruu_Old

Link here

The media will have a field day with this one.

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 Padraig Harrington.

The news came out 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 percent there and it will take some convincing for me to continue.

'It's absolutely not to do with Padraig. To be fair to myself and my golf I have too much to deal with.

'It took its toll on Mark James, it certainly did on Jamie Spence and it's taking a toll on me.'

Bjorn, who had to take a lengthy break from the game this summer and even had a brain scan because of dizziness and extreme 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 tomorrow'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 by telling Press Association Sport last week: 'I don't know where Padraig 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, 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 today 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 he thought 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 - in my eyes 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 i 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 as the Tour's number one for the first time and if the 20-year-old was to win on Sunday will be more than £481,000 ahead of second-placed Martin Kaymer, whose return from injury is expected in Spain next week.

The first prize of almost £460,000 could also take Lee Westwood and Ross Fisher top, however, while the field also includes 2007 Order of Merit winner Justin Rose in his first start in Europe since The Open.

L.O.F.T

http://www.rte.ie/sport/golf/2009/1015/bjornt.html

Something must have tipped Bjorn over the edge