Bjorn prepared to step aside

Thomas Bjorn is on the verge of resigning as chairman of the European Tour’s players committee just a week after his scathing attack on Padraig Harrington. The news came out on the eve of the Portugal Masters, where both are playing.

A meeting of the committee to discuss a possible tightening up of Tour rules is also scheduled for tomorrow.

“I’ve been thinking about this for a while,” said Bjorn. “I’ve not officially resigned yet, but I am 90 per cent there and it will take some convincing for me to continue.

“It’s absolutely not to do with Padraig. To be fair to myself and my golf I have too much to deal with. It took its toll on Mark James, it certainly did on Jamie Spence and it’s taking a toll on me.”

Bjorn, who had to take a lengthy break from the game this summer and even had a brain scan because of dizziness and extreme fatigue, also said he is likely to stay on the committee only if a new structure is put in place where it is not an active player who acts as chairman.

Harrington, not on the committee, has been invited to tomorrow’s meeting to air his views on the future of the Tour. To help a number of events in Europe through the economic crisis a debate had started on whether to ask players to make an increased commitment.

Harrington said: “I’m happy to throw my tuppence into any argument. Life would be no fun if we didn’t have dissension. That’s how good decisions get made.”

But asked if he might now serve on the committee the three-time major winner commented: “I’m playing golf — I don’t have time to be on a committee.”

He also said he thought it was coincidental that Bjorn’s likely resignation was coming so soon after their exchange.

Harrington certainly seems to ready to fight his corner at the meeting, calling it “narrow-minded” if the focus is put on making sure events in Europe have better fields.

“We’ve got to embrace the world — in my eyes we have to go global,” he stated. “The US tour is number one, Europe is number two and the only way a number two can compete with a number one is to merge with three, four and five - Asia, South Africa and Japan.

“Where is our greatest growth area going forward? It’s got to be Asia.”

Harrington and Bjorn now try to turn their thoughts to trying to win at Oceanico Victoria, but the main focus when the event gets under way will be the battle for the Order of Merit title.

Rory McIlroy tees off as as the Tour’s number one for the first time and if the 20-year-old was to win on Sunday will be more than €526,000 ahead of second-placed Martin Kaymer, whose return from injury is expected in Spain next week.

The €500,000 first prize could also take Lee Westwood and Ross Fisher top, however, while the field also includes 2007 Order of Merit winner Justin Rose in his first start in Europe since The Open.