Alexander Bjӧrk is hoping to match or better his last result in Italy as the European Challenge Tour returns to Rome for this week’s Terre dei Consoli Open.
The Swede finished tied fourth in the Montecchia Open by Lyoness in May before claiming a maiden professional win at Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge, and four further top tens have taken him to ninth place in the Road to Oman Rankings.
With just five tournaments to go this season, the 26 year old arrived at Terre dei Consoli Golf Club determined to keep climbing the Rankings as he bids to finish in the top 15 and earn a maiden season on the European Tour.
“It was a good week here in May, I was close,” he said. “I like playing here in Italy, it’s a nice place and hopefully the weather’s good, the course looks good so hopefully it can be another good week.
“It’s an important month or so coming up and I feel pretty good. I played pretty well in Kazakhstan, had a bit of a bad weekend and didn’t get the scoring going, but I still feel like the game is there so I’m not too worried and am looking forward to these last five events.
Björk again 🏌
— Challenge Tour (@Challenge_Tour) October 5, 2016
T4 in Montecchia in May, @AlexBjorkGolf is hoping for another good week in Italy at the #TDCOpen pic.twitter.com/xuzj6JrI1I
“I took a lot of confidence from the win at Le Vaudreuil. It took me up towards the top of the Rankings and that’s where I want to be so it’s been a lot easier after that.
“I’m still up there and I know I don’t need another win necessarily – of course, I try to win every week, but it’s a little bit more of a relief to know that if I play well I should stay in the top 15.
“My aim is to win the Rankings. I think it’s easier to think that way, to target the top, instead of thinking of what’s going on underneath me, so my goal is to climb the Rankings instead of just keeping my spot.
“I thought the best thing to do was to play all the final six events – also, if I take one week off, it’s probably winter in Sweden so it’s not too good for me to practise!
“Luckily I’ve just had two weeks at home before Kazakhstan so I’ve tried to book everything early and get my schedule sorted, and not work too hard during these weeks, stay relaxed and not get too tired – saving energy will be the key this month I think.”
Sweden has a long and successful history on the Challenge Tour, with Henrik Stenson the most notable alumnus, the Open Champion winning the Rankings in 2000.
The trend has continued in 2016, with Bjӧrk one of three Swedish winners on this season’s Road to Oman along with Simon Forsstrӧm and Sebastian Soderberg, while Oscar Stark and Jens Dantorp are also within the top 50 and by no means out of contention for top 15 spots.
“I would say there’s a good feeling amongst the Swedes,” he said. “We have at least four or five who can finish in the top 15 with a good few results, and we usually have a nice time together during the season.
“The Open was the week before I won in France so I took a lot of inspiration from that, but Henrik has been an inspiration for Swedish golf for many years now, since he came through the Challenge Tour.
“I also took a lot of inspiration from my friend Simon Forsstrӧm, when he won in Belgium. We played a lot together in the junior tours, so when he won it made me think I could win as well.
“When another Swede does well I try to see the positive in that and be inspired – we all keep pushing each other and if someone else plays well it’s good for everyone.”
