Martin Dempster: Tour chief O'Grady should have eased Bjorn's burden

Published on Monday 19 October 2009 22:32

THOMAS Bjorn's decision to retire as chairman of the European Tour players' committee should be causing someone at Wentworth, the Tour's base, to have a few sleepless nights.

First and foremost, the Dane was, according to those in the know, a "good chairman" and, frankly, you can't afford to lose people like that.

What worries me more about this decision, though, is that it was partly made due to the effect the role was having on Bjorn's health. He said as much during an interview at the recent Alfred Dunhill Links Championship after securing the first-round lead.

It was incredible to hear Bjorn talk that day about the toll that worrying had taken on him, hence his lengthy break from the game this summer, when he even had a brain scan because of dizziness and extreme fatigue.

What exactly was he worrying about?

Bjorn was obviously being made well aware that things aren't quite as rosy in the European Tour garden at the moment as its powers-that-be would like.

Colin Montgomerie has clearly been at the same meetings because he is constantly talking about how important it is from an economic point of view for Europe to win back the Ryder Cup in Wales next October.

Is it right, though, that the chairman of the players' committee and the Ryder Cup captain should be feeling such a weight on their shoulders?

George O'Grady is the European Tour's chief executive, having succeeded the likeable Ken Schofield a few years back, and, for my money at least, he's the man who should be feeling a tad uncomfortable at the moment.

Sorry, but there's no way that the role filled by Bjorn and, before him, Mark James and Jamie Spence, should be affecting someone to the extent that it harms their health and, to a lesser extent, their own game.

It didn't seem too long ago that Bjorn, who chalked up the first of nine European Tour victories with a win in the Loch Lomond World Invitational in 1996, was one of the leading lights on this side of the Atlantic.

Yet he's now 210th in the world rankings and is struggling to make the field for the season-ending Dubai World Championship. That will be galling for Bjorn given that he chaired the meetings when the good news was spread to members after the Tour secured this new pot of gold.

That pot, of course, is now slightly smaller after the prize fund was cut by 25 per cent and here's where the worry has come from for Bjorn and, no doubt, O'Grady as well.

"When I took the job as chairman, it was pretty easy times," said Bjorn in the interview room during the Dunhill. "We had people lining up to sponsor events, but now it's tough times. I have to take that responsibility because that's the job I took on. I sometimes kick myself and say, 'Is it realy worth it for your own career?' But I also think I bring a lot to the table."

The fact the committee tried to persuade him to stay on as chairman is a clear indication that he did, but Bjorn has had enough and should be wished well as he tries to resurrect his career.

Where does the players' committee go from here? Bjorn, who will remain in situ until the constitution can be changed at the next annual meeting in July, has recommended a different structure where the chief executive runs the meeting and one member acts as chairman each time.

That makes sense because there is no doubt that O'Grady should be the man in the spotlight, especially when times are tough. I've got nothing against the Irishman whatsoever. In fact, I've found him to be a very pleasant chap and, what's more, I believe he is a very professional operator.

It does concern me, though, to hear just how much Bjorn has been affected by things over the past few months and I sincerely hope that too much economic pressure isn't being put on Montgomerie as he bids to bring the Ryder Cup back to this side of the Atlantic.

Montgomerie is giving the job his all. We didn't expect anything less for an event he adores, the match against the Americans having brought the best out in him so many times over the years.

But let's allow him to get on with that role without being constantly reminded that the result might have a bearing on how many tournaments could be gained or, on the other hand, lost on the European Tour over the next few years.

What has happened to poor Thomas Bjorn should be a lesson to everyone. No-one should be feeling so much pressure that they end up in hospital getting a brain scan.

Continuity can turn the tide for Saltman

AS LLOYD Saltman ponders his next move, I sincerely hope this talented young man doesn't do anything rash by deciding, for instance, that he should be changing his coach.

Yes, things haven't quite mapped out for Saltman as many, myself included, had predicted after he enjoyed a stellar amateur career, the highlight of which was his success in winning the silver medal in the 2005 Open at St Andrews.

It appears that he's going to have to wait at least another year to join his Walker Cup team-mates Rory McIlroy and Danny Willett on the European Tour and Saltman should certainly be playing at a higher level than the PGA EuroPro Tour, on which he recently lost in a play-off in an event at Fairmont St Andrews.

However, and I believe he's level-headed enough to know that he shouldn't be reaching for the panic button, Saltman should keep working away witn Colin Brooks, the man who helped him become a good player in the first place.

Like Saltman, Brooks is a very talented individual and by continuing to work together they can ensure that Saltman fulfils his enormous potential. In my book, he can still be the Scottish No1 one day.