Latest news with #Bjorn
NBC Sports
2 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Darren Clarke, Thomas Bjorn win PGA Tour Champions team event
MADISON, Wis. — European Ryder Cup captains and teammates Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn won the American Family Insurance Championship on Sunday, shooting a 7-under 64 in better-ball play for a four-stroke victory over four teams. The tournament hosted by Steve Stricker — who tied for second with brother-in-law Mario Tiziani — switched to the team format this year, giving the PGA Tour Champions its only team event. Clarke and Bjorn finished at 32-under 181 at TPC Wisconsin. They opened with a better-ball 59 and shot a 58 on Saturday in a scramble round. The 56-year-old Clarke, from Northern Ireland, won for the fifth time on the 50-and-over tour. The 54-year-old Bjorn, from Denmark, won his first Champions title. Striker and Tiziani closed with a 65 to match the teams of Alex Cejka-Soren Kjeldsen (59), Doug Barron-Dicky Pride (69) and Steve Flesch-Paul Goydos (64) at 28 under. Bernhard Langer and Steven Alker were another stroke back after a 63. Ernie Els, the winner last year in individual play, teamed with Tim Herron for a 66 that left them 26 under.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn team to win the American Family Insurance Championship
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — European Ryder Cup captains and teammates Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn won the American Family Insurance Championship on Sunday, shooting a 7-under 64 in better-ball play for a four-stroke victory over four teams. The tournament hosted by Steve Stricker — who tied for second with brother-in-law Mario Tiziani — switched to the team format this year, giving the PGA Tour Champions its only team event. Clarke and Bjorn finished at 32-under 181 at TPC Wisconsin. They opened with a better-ball 59 and shot a 58 on Saturday in a scramble round. The 56-year-old Clarke, from Northern Ireland, won for the fifth time on the 59-and-over tour. The 54-year-old Bjorn, from Denmark, won his first Champions title. Striker and Tiziani closed with a 65 to match the teams of Alex Cejka-Soren Kjeldsen (59), Doug Barron-Dicky Pride (69) and Steve Flesch-Paul Goydos (64) at 28 under. Bernhard Langer and Steven Alker were another stroke back after a 63. Ernie Els, the winner last year in individual play, teamed with Tim Herron for a 66 that left them 26 under. ___ AP golf:
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Thomas Bjorn, Darren Clarke close strong, maintain lead at TPC Wisconsin
The team of Thomas Bjorn and Darren Clarke stayed on the attack at TPC Wisconsin on Saturday, reaching 25-under par after two rounds of the American Family Insurance Championship in Madison, Wis. Playing a scramble format in the second round, where each team chooses the best shot of the two players and each one hits their next shot from there, the Bjorn-Clarke duo delivered five birdies on the front nine before taking charge on the back. Clarke, of Northern Ireland, and Bjorn, of Denmark, were under par on seven of the final nine holes, including an eagle 3 at the par-5 11th hole. The 13-under 58 came after a 12-under 59 in the first round Friday. "In the end, it seemed like the hole was the size of a bucket, and you get like that, but you also know that a night's sleep, you can wake up and it can seem like very small tomorrow," Bjorn said. "That's the way golf goes. But today ... we probably felt like we did when we were 28, hitting those kind of golf shots." Clarke was particularly impressive on the day, delivering three birdies on the front nine and going 7-under by himself on the back. Both players birdied the last four holes. "It's really exciting to go out there with a chance to win any tournament, and then to go out there and have a chance to win tomorrow playing with Thomas in a team event, it's brilliant," Clarke said. "That's what we practice for, that's what we play for. If it happens, great. If not, then so be it, we've done our best." Steve Stricker and Mario Tiziani moved into second place at 22 under with the low round of the day at 15-under 56. They combined to shoot a 28 on both sides, with each recording an eagle 3 at the par-5 seventh hole. Stricker and Tiziani had a birdie or better on 11 of the final 13 holes. "We were in position every hole to make birdies," Tiziani said. "I can't really think of one we were not. Maybe 17, I guess. But other than that, yeah, we were in position. We just ham-and-egged it, we really did. I guess that's what you have to do." A tie for third place at 21 under included the teams of Steve Flesch and Paul Goydos, as well as Ernie Els of South Africa and Tim Herron. Flesch and Goydos climbed into third with a 14-under 57, while Els and Herron combined to shoot 59. "We just played a lot of good golf today," Flesch said. "Paul hit a lot of good iron shots, I hit a lot of good iron shots. I made a lot of putts today, Paul made a couple great putts that I don't know if we really expected to make." Two other sub-60 rounds were delivered by Cameron Percy and David Bransdon , both of Australia, and Bernhard Langer of Germany and Steven Alker of New Zealand . Percy and Bransdon moved into fifth place at 20 under, while Langer and Alker were tied for sixth at 19 under with Richard Green and Mark Hensby of Australia. The field will return to the best ball format, used in Friday's first round, for Sunday's final round. Field Level Media
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Aussie twosome hot on leaders' heels in Champions Tour
Thomas Bjorn and Darren Clarke have combined to shoot a 12-under-par 59 to grab the early advantage at the American Family Insurance Championship in Madison. Friday's four ball (best ball) format, which takes the lower score of a pairing of two golfers on each hole, is predisposed to the proliferation of lower scores, and indeed, every coupling of golfers competing was under par on the day. Clarke, of Northern Ireland, and Denmark's Bjorn were a dynamic duo on the first day of the tournament's debut at TPC Wisconsin, with each accounting for seven birdies across 12 different holes. But they have Australian twosome Richard Green and Mark Hensby in hot pursuit, just two behind them. "Certainly for me knowing Thomas's game so well made it so much easier for me to go out there and free it up today," Clarke said. "I really enjoy playing with him because I know he's there if I mess up, and likewise I try to be there for him. "We have, it's like a 'no sorry' policy. We're both trying as hard as we can and we both hit a lot of really good shots today and made the most of our opportunities." Each got on individual hot streaks, nabbing birdies on four straight holes. Overall, Clarke pocketed birdies on Nos.2, 4-7, 9 and 14. Bjorn had birdies at Nos.4-5, 11 and 15-18. "I think we were tactically very, very sound today and did the right things when we had to," Bjorn said. "When we had two balls in the fairway or two balls on the green, we could be aggressive and that's why we holed more putts than we probably normally would, and we could take on a little bit more flags." Seven duos are within four strokes of the leaders. Green and Hensby at 10-under 61, were good for second place. Hensby had the rougher day of the two with a pair of bogeys, but six birdies by Green kept them in contention. "I think we just both really enjoy the golf course, and the conditions are beautiful," Green said. "It's a lot of fun to play and hit the right shots required on this golf course. I felt comfortable out there." Defending champion Ernie Els of South Africa and his partner Tim Herron are tied for third at nine under alongside Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee and Australia's Brendan Jones. Tied for fifth at eight under are Australians Cameron Percy and David Bransdon, fellow Australians Stuart Appleby and Michael Wright, South Korea's K.J. Choi and Japan's Hiroyuki Fujita and Americans Gene Sauers and Glen Day. Saturday will switch things up with a scramble format - golfers choose the best lie of the two shoots they take from each location along the hole until the hole is completed - before reverting to best ball format on championship Sunday. Thomas Bjorn and Darren Clarke have combined to shoot a 12-under-par 59 to grab the early advantage at the American Family Insurance Championship in Madison. Friday's four ball (best ball) format, which takes the lower score of a pairing of two golfers on each hole, is predisposed to the proliferation of lower scores, and indeed, every coupling of golfers competing was under par on the day. Clarke, of Northern Ireland, and Denmark's Bjorn were a dynamic duo on the first day of the tournament's debut at TPC Wisconsin, with each accounting for seven birdies across 12 different holes. But they have Australian twosome Richard Green and Mark Hensby in hot pursuit, just two behind them. "Certainly for me knowing Thomas's game so well made it so much easier for me to go out there and free it up today," Clarke said. "I really enjoy playing with him because I know he's there if I mess up, and likewise I try to be there for him. "We have, it's like a 'no sorry' policy. We're both trying as hard as we can and we both hit a lot of really good shots today and made the most of our opportunities." Each got on individual hot streaks, nabbing birdies on four straight holes. Overall, Clarke pocketed birdies on Nos.2, 4-7, 9 and 14. Bjorn had birdies at Nos.4-5, 11 and 15-18. "I think we were tactically very, very sound today and did the right things when we had to," Bjorn said. "When we had two balls in the fairway or two balls on the green, we could be aggressive and that's why we holed more putts than we probably normally would, and we could take on a little bit more flags." Seven duos are within four strokes of the leaders. Green and Hensby at 10-under 61, were good for second place. Hensby had the rougher day of the two with a pair of bogeys, but six birdies by Green kept them in contention. "I think we just both really enjoy the golf course, and the conditions are beautiful," Green said. "It's a lot of fun to play and hit the right shots required on this golf course. I felt comfortable out there." Defending champion Ernie Els of South Africa and his partner Tim Herron are tied for third at nine under alongside Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee and Australia's Brendan Jones. Tied for fifth at eight under are Australians Cameron Percy and David Bransdon, fellow Australians Stuart Appleby and Michael Wright, South Korea's K.J. Choi and Japan's Hiroyuki Fujita and Americans Gene Sauers and Glen Day. Saturday will switch things up with a scramble format - golfers choose the best lie of the two shoots they take from each location along the hole until the hole is completed - before reverting to best ball format on championship Sunday. Thomas Bjorn and Darren Clarke have combined to shoot a 12-under-par 59 to grab the early advantage at the American Family Insurance Championship in Madison. Friday's four ball (best ball) format, which takes the lower score of a pairing of two golfers on each hole, is predisposed to the proliferation of lower scores, and indeed, every coupling of golfers competing was under par on the day. Clarke, of Northern Ireland, and Denmark's Bjorn were a dynamic duo on the first day of the tournament's debut at TPC Wisconsin, with each accounting for seven birdies across 12 different holes. But they have Australian twosome Richard Green and Mark Hensby in hot pursuit, just two behind them. "Certainly for me knowing Thomas's game so well made it so much easier for me to go out there and free it up today," Clarke said. "I really enjoy playing with him because I know he's there if I mess up, and likewise I try to be there for him. "We have, it's like a 'no sorry' policy. We're both trying as hard as we can and we both hit a lot of really good shots today and made the most of our opportunities." Each got on individual hot streaks, nabbing birdies on four straight holes. Overall, Clarke pocketed birdies on Nos.2, 4-7, 9 and 14. Bjorn had birdies at Nos.4-5, 11 and 15-18. "I think we were tactically very, very sound today and did the right things when we had to," Bjorn said. "When we had two balls in the fairway or two balls on the green, we could be aggressive and that's why we holed more putts than we probably normally would, and we could take on a little bit more flags." Seven duos are within four strokes of the leaders. Green and Hensby at 10-under 61, were good for second place. Hensby had the rougher day of the two with a pair of bogeys, but six birdies by Green kept them in contention. "I think we just both really enjoy the golf course, and the conditions are beautiful," Green said. "It's a lot of fun to play and hit the right shots required on this golf course. I felt comfortable out there." Defending champion Ernie Els of South Africa and his partner Tim Herron are tied for third at nine under alongside Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee and Australia's Brendan Jones. Tied for fifth at eight under are Australians Cameron Percy and David Bransdon, fellow Australians Stuart Appleby and Michael Wright, South Korea's K.J. Choi and Japan's Hiroyuki Fujita and Americans Gene Sauers and Glen Day. Saturday will switch things up with a scramble format - golfers choose the best lie of the two shoots they take from each location along the hole until the hole is completed - before reverting to best ball format on championship Sunday. Thomas Bjorn and Darren Clarke have combined to shoot a 12-under-par 59 to grab the early advantage at the American Family Insurance Championship in Madison. Friday's four ball (best ball) format, which takes the lower score of a pairing of two golfers on each hole, is predisposed to the proliferation of lower scores, and indeed, every coupling of golfers competing was under par on the day. Clarke, of Northern Ireland, and Denmark's Bjorn were a dynamic duo on the first day of the tournament's debut at TPC Wisconsin, with each accounting for seven birdies across 12 different holes. But they have Australian twosome Richard Green and Mark Hensby in hot pursuit, just two behind them. "Certainly for me knowing Thomas's game so well made it so much easier for me to go out there and free it up today," Clarke said. "I really enjoy playing with him because I know he's there if I mess up, and likewise I try to be there for him. "We have, it's like a 'no sorry' policy. We're both trying as hard as we can and we both hit a lot of really good shots today and made the most of our opportunities." Each got on individual hot streaks, nabbing birdies on four straight holes. Overall, Clarke pocketed birdies on Nos.2, 4-7, 9 and 14. Bjorn had birdies at Nos.4-5, 11 and 15-18. "I think we were tactically very, very sound today and did the right things when we had to," Bjorn said. "When we had two balls in the fairway or two balls on the green, we could be aggressive and that's why we holed more putts than we probably normally would, and we could take on a little bit more flags." Seven duos are within four strokes of the leaders. Green and Hensby at 10-under 61, were good for second place. Hensby had the rougher day of the two with a pair of bogeys, but six birdies by Green kept them in contention. "I think we just both really enjoy the golf course, and the conditions are beautiful," Green said. "It's a lot of fun to play and hit the right shots required on this golf course. I felt comfortable out there." Defending champion Ernie Els of South Africa and his partner Tim Herron are tied for third at nine under alongside Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee and Australia's Brendan Jones. Tied for fifth at eight under are Australians Cameron Percy and David Bransdon, fellow Australians Stuart Appleby and Michael Wright, South Korea's K.J. Choi and Japan's Hiroyuki Fujita and Americans Gene Sauers and Glen Day. Saturday will switch things up with a scramble format - golfers choose the best lie of the two shoots they take from each location along the hole until the hole is completed - before reverting to best ball format on championship Sunday.
West Australian
4 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Aussie twosome hot on leaders' heels in Champions Tour
Thomas Bjorn and Darren Clarke have combined to shoot a 12-under-par 59 to grab the early advantage at the American Family Insurance Championship in Madison. Friday's four ball (best ball) format, which takes the lower score of a pairing of two golfers on each hole, is predisposed to the proliferation of lower scores, and indeed, every coupling of golfers competing was under par on the day. Clarke, of Northern Ireland, and Denmark's Bjorn were a dynamic duo on the first day of the tournament's debut at TPC Wisconsin, with each accounting for seven birdies across 12 different holes. But they have Australian twosome Richard Green and Mark Hensby in hot pursuit, just two behind them. "Certainly for me knowing Thomas's game so well made it so much easier for me to go out there and free it up today," Clarke said. "I really enjoy playing with him because I know he's there if I mess up, and likewise I try to be there for him. "We have, it's like a 'no sorry' policy. We're both trying as hard as we can and we both hit a lot of really good shots today and made the most of our opportunities." Each got on individual hot streaks, nabbing birdies on four straight holes. Overall, Clarke pocketed birdies on Nos.2, 4-7, 9 and 14. Bjorn had birdies at Nos.4-5, 11 and 15-18. "I think we were tactically very, very sound today and did the right things when we had to," Bjorn said. "When we had two balls in the fairway or two balls on the green, we could be aggressive and that's why we holed more putts than we probably normally would, and we could take on a little bit more flags." Seven duos are within four strokes of the leaders. Green and Hensby at 10-under 61, were good for second place. Hensby had the rougher day of the two with a pair of bogeys, but six birdies by Green kept them in contention. "I think we just both really enjoy the golf course, and the conditions are beautiful," Green said. "It's a lot of fun to play and hit the right shots required on this golf course. I felt comfortable out there." Defending champion Ernie Els of South Africa and his partner Tim Herron are tied for third at nine under alongside Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee and Australia's Brendan Jones. Tied for fifth at eight under are Australians Cameron Percy and David Bransdon, fellow Australians Stuart Appleby and Michael Wright, South Korea's K.J. Choi and Japan's Hiroyuki Fujita and Americans Gene Sauers and Glen Day. Saturday will switch things up with a scramble format - golfers choose the best lie of the two shoots they take from each location along the hole until the hole is completed - before reverting to best ball format on championship Sunday.
