Thomas Bjørn returns home this week for the Made in Denmark and revealed he will be flooded with childhood memories when he tees it up at Silkeborg Ry Golf Club.
Since debuting on the European Tour International Schedule in 2014, the Made in Denmark has become one of the highlights on the calendar, attracting huge crowds and proving an enormous hit with the players.
This will be the first edition not to be played at Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort, with the event moving 100 kilometres south to the home of Ryder Cup Captain and European Tour great Bjørn.
The 15-time winner could be forgiven for being distracted this week with just days to go before he finalises his Team to take on the United States at Le Golf National in September, but he is relishing the chance to play a European Tour event at his home course and show its beauty to the world.
I have spent more time at this club than I have in my house. This is my childhood and was the best playground I could have had - Thomas Bjørn
“It’s a great course,” he said. “I have said it all my life that it is a great design, a great place to be and a great place to play.
“I am probably the worst person to ask what the winning score will be this week! The course has changed a lot over the years. Most of the holes have been tweaked and the greens are different but the routing hasn’t changed and when I step on that course I have so many memories of being a 14/15 year old kid.
“There are so many memories for me coming back to the golf course and town where I grew up. This is my childhood. When there was no snow I got dropped off here at 8am on a Saturday and picked up at 6pm Sunday. I was here every day after school.
“I have spent more time at this club than I have in my house. This is my childhood and was the best playground I could have had.”
He added: “This tournament has turned into a great event and the best indicator of that comes when you talk to the players. They love the event, they enjoy coming here and playing in front of the crowds and having a bit of fun with it. You can talk about top players coming to play, but you have to consider all players on Tour and this is a great event on our Tour.”
Another man carrying home hopes is Søren Kjeldsen, who has never finished lower than 23rd having played every edition of the Made in Denmark so far.
There were great scenes when the 43 year old made his 500th European Tour start at this event in 2015 and he admits it is one of his favourite weeks on Tour.
“There's nothing quite like playing in your home country,” he said. “You hear it every week when we play somewhere, people always say that outside the Majors this is the one, when you play in your home country, so it's special for us.
“Danish golf has had a lot of success over the years with new players coming out and it's nice to keep the tradition going. The support we get this week is amazing. Everybody has just been blown away by the reception we have had in Denmark and not just the Danish players but all the people from all over the world. It's been quite amazing what golf is like in this country.
“It's an absolute beauty of a course, it's always been one of the best courses we've had in the country. I was walking it this morning and it's one of those places where you could see yourself be old here and walk the course and play with the dog every day of the week for the rest of your life, it's one of those places. It's just so peaceful and so wonderful out there.”
