Vivendi Trophy: the captains comment

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Thomas Bjorn believes the opening ceremony at the Vivendi Tropy contributed to Europe losing the first round 3-2.

Thomas Bjorn believes an opening ceremony held on the morning of the match may have contributed to Continental Europe losing the first session 3-2 to Britain and Ireland at the Vivendi Trophy in Paris.
“There’s no excuses for not being ready, but being a Scandinavian myself a few of them I know are very set in their routines,” he said.
“I could see a lot of things going on that maybe unsettled them a little bit and they maybe weren’t quite ready when they stood on the first tee.
“I might not have gone over it well enough. It’s a long time to be at the course at a quarter to nine if you’re going to tee off after midday.
“They’re not used to it and are just sitting around and end up eating breakfast three times. It’s not quite what you want to do, but they should all have the experience.”
Opposite number Paul McGinley stated: “I told my players not to have breakfast before they left the hotel and leave as late as possible.
“There are things that upset your routines, but it’s part and parcel of being a team and you’ve got to get used to them.”
McGinley was delighted by the start made to the four-day match and admitted the big surprise was the record-equalling six-and-five win by debutants Chris Wood and Anthony Wall over Swedish stars Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson.
Top pair Graeme McDowell and 20-year-old Rory McIlroy were also winners and the Dubliner said of the two Ulstermen: “They were leading off my charge to the trophy – that’s the role I wanted them to play and the impression I wanted to give.
“They’re potential Ryder Cup partners next year and maybe for a long time. They were brilliant.”

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