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Bjorn gives backing to Euro Tour

08/06/2006

Danish golfer Thomas Bjorn insists the European Tour's future is bright despite the ever-growing popularity of the US PGA Tour.

Bjorn made his debut on the Euro circuit back in 1996 and has witnessed first-hand the increasingly common tendency for European players to abscond stateside.

Golfers such as Sergio Garcia, Luke Donald, David Howell and Padraig Harrington have all opted to play more regularly in the US in recent seasons which has caused concern for Europe's Ryder Cup hopes and also for the state of the European Tour in general.

But Bjorn, who won last month's Nissan Irish Open, has defended the European Tour and believes that youngsters coming through the ranks will ensure the US PGA Tour does not dominate the sport in years to come.

"We have star potential in the likes of Sergio Garcia, Luke Donald and Paul Casey and it looks like there is a generation behind them starting to emerge with people like Nick Dougherty," he said.

"These players are going to be the stronghold of European golf and they will continue to support the European Tour."

The Dane added: "The Americans like to see everyone playing in America. I don't think they will get very far with that. As long as it is possible to play on both, this tour will go the way it has always done and get around the problem."

Bjorn is taking part in this weekend's Austrian Open alongside the likes of Colin Montgomerie and Paul McGinley.

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