European Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam admitted Thomas Bjorn had struggled to accept his failure to make the cut for this month’s showdown with the United States.
Bjorn was overlooked when Woosnam named his two wild-card choices for the contest on Sunday, giving the nod to Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke and England’s Lee Westwood instead.
Woosnam confirmed that Bjorn had not been a ”happy chappy” after being told that he would not figure at the K Club on September 22 to 24, just two years after serving as one of Bernhard Langer’s key lieutenants at Oakland Hills.
”Thomas was in the back of my mind,” Woosnam told BBC Five Live.
”It was difficult when I got back to the hotel last night; he wasn’t a happy chappy.
”He was very, very disappointed. He didn’t say a lot. I tried to say: ‘I hope you respect my decision. It’s been difficult. I know you’re going to have a few words about it.’
”I missed out in 1995 and I was very disappointed, but someone has got to do the job, someone’s got to pick the team.
”I feel sorry for the guys who have missed out. Hopefully when this blows over after a while we can have a few beers over it.”
Woosnam, meanwhile, reiterated his conviction that Clarke will be mentally prepared for the Ryder Cup following the tragic death of his wife Heather after a long battle with cancer last month.
”I think picking Darren Clarke was a fairly easy one because Darren is a fantastic player,” said Woosnam.
”He is going through lots of emotional stuff at the moment.
”There obviously is a risk factor, but I am pretty confident. Darren is a very strong character and he has assured me he will be up to the task,” Woosnam said. — Sapa-AFP