Thomas Bjorn claimed his second victory in successive weeks at last year's Omega European Masters. Here, in an excerpt from The European Tour Yearbook 2012, we recap how the Dane captured his third title of the season high in the Swiss Alps.
Seven days previously, Thomas Björn had been Monarch of the Glen; now the rampaging Dane was King of the Mountains after a stunning victory in the Omega European Masters.
It was the first back-to-back victory on The European Tour since Charl Schwartzel won the Africa Open and the Joburg Open in 2010 and one which saw Björn, at 40 years and 198 days, become the oldest man in Tour history to achieve the feat.
Furthermore, it saw the Dane take his place alongside Luke Donald as a three time winner on Tour in 2011; move to seventh in The Race to Dubai; move to 28th from outside the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking; and move to the top of the Ryder Cup points table in this, the first counting event.
Just as at Gleneagles, Björn began the final round three strokes in arrears of the lead but while steely grit and determination saw him post a 69 in Scotland before coming through a five man, five hole play-off; in Switzerland it was sheer class that blew the opposition away.
Early in the final round it looked like reigning European Number One Martin Kaymer was the man to beat, two eagles and two birdies in his first eight holes giving the German the advantage. But his challenge stalled and ten par figures to finish gave Björn a chance that he grabbed with both hands.
The Dane stormed home, covering the final five holes in five under par to post the best round of his European Tour career – a superb nine under par 62 – for a four shot victory.
To order your copy of The European Tour Yearbook 2012, a 240-page, full colour hardback Official Publication with iconic pictures by Getty Images and essays from some of the game's top writers that takes you every step of the way through 52 tournaments and 29 destinations on The 2011 Race to Dubai, click here.
