Bjorn's victory brings Ryder Cup boost

Thomas Bjorn yesterday won the BMW International Open here for the second time in three years, again denying Bernhard Langer victory in the only tour event on German soil he has never won.

The Dane carded a final-round 66 for a 24-under-par total of 264 at Nord-Eichenried and a four-shot victory over his Ryder Cup team-mate Langer and the Briton John Bickerton. Another Englishman Ian Poulter, who is on standby for the Ryder Cup, shared fourth place with the Welshman David Park.

On a weekend when Colin Montgomerie was rated as only 50-50 to play at The Belfry, Padraig Harrington revealed he would have a scan on his ankle injury and Phillip Price missed the cut, the form of Bjorn, Langer and Poulter was the perfect boost for Europe's Ryder Cup captain, Sam Torrance.

Bjorn and Langer played together on all four days and could be asked to pair up again in less than four weeks' time at The Belfry. "Playing with Bernhard would be great," said Bjorn after picking up the winner's cheque for £191,000 and moving to 13th on the Volvo Order of Merit. "He is a great professional because he plays sensible golf."

Langer, who will be making his 10th Ryder appearance, added: "There is a chance to play with Thomas at the Ryder Cup and I would be very happy to because he is very likeable and we get on very well. What happens here is not really relevant to what happens in four weeks' time, that's when we have to play well again, but it's a confidence boost for the Ryder Cup."

Bjorn began the day with a two-shot lead and was always in control after three birdies in four holes from the third. Another birdie on the ninth took him out in 32 and extended his lead to three shots, and he responded to his only bogey of the day on the 10th with another brace of birdies.

Langer, who has won every European Tour event in his home country at least twice apart from this one, also picked up four birdies on the front nine and chipped in to save par on the fifth after duffing his third shot. But he was not so fortunate after another fluffed chip on the eighth, and after matching Bjorn's bogey on the 10th he was never able to get within striking distance.

BMW OPEN (Munich) Leading final scores (GB or Irl unless stated): 264 T Bjorn (Den) 68 64 66 66. 268 J Bickerton 67 69 66 66; B Langer (Ger) 64 69 67 68. 271 D Park 68 67 69 67; I Poulter 65 66 70 70. 272 R Bland 65 66 69 72. 273 P Casey 72 63 71 67; P Golding 69 65 69 70; D Lynn 67 67 68 71. 274 M A Jimenez (Sp) 68 68 69 69; J Daly (US) 70 70 65 69; T Immelman (SA) 66 72 65 71. 275 R Coles 65 73 71 66; A Wall 70 69 65 71; J Haeggman (Swe) 69 67 67 72; J Spence 67 64 70 74. 276 B Lane 68 69 71 68; P Harrington 70 70 68 68; P Senior (Aus) 70 68 67 71. 277 S Tinning (Den) 68 67 73 69; M Olander (Swe) 69 67 71 70; M Lundberg (Swe) 70 69 68 70; M Gronberg (Swe) 70 67 68 72.