Bjorn scores some shots on the verbal fairway

Thomas Bjorn has an intriguing relationship with words. They whirl around his head like clothes in a washing machine and tumble out in a cultured European accent. Sometimes indirectly linked to the thoughts that formed them. But there is no missing the essence. He wants you to pay attention and respect what he has to say. So listen up.

"This is the best performance of my life by far," said the 30-year-old Dane, who sensationally beat the world's No 1 golfer, Tiger Woods, in last weekend's Dubai Desert Classic. "I've won plenty of golf tournaments. I played in the Ryder Cup and came back from four down after four, but winning this is the performance of my life.

"The world's greatest player was here and I took him on head-to-head. The intimidation is disappearing. People are now starting to realise you can't get intimidated by Tiger. You have to beat him," he exulted after his two-stroke victory at the Emirates Golf Club.

The weekend showdown was the talk of the town. Romantically, it had felt good - underdog beats champ. Dramatically, it had gone to the wire - heart-stopping all the way.

Reality in sport is the absurd. How could we ever have taken Bjorn, the nice guy who sets up home in Dubai every winter, seriously?

Two weeks prior to the Classic he told this journalist that Tiger could be beaten. At the time it seemed like wishful thinking, beside making for good copy. But nobody, not even the guys who hit balls with him every day the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, took Bjorn seriously. How wrong we doubting Thomases were!

In part, dealing with pressure was the key to his victory. And on that score, he undermined a player who is perhaps the best known sportsman in the world today. Bjorn built a mighty defensive wall based on the requirement to tackle Tiger head-on. The American was tamed at the wire and exposed as someone who was human, and liable to err. When the fight was lost, with that one faulty tee-shot on the 18th, the American superstar had nothing to offer, despite having one of the most accomplished allround games.

One of the many lines of interest to come Bjorn, who chose ultra-caution as his style of expression all week was: "I don't care what Tiger does out there, or anybody else. I need to get myself in a position. I need to play at my absolute best." Bjorn certainly made us believe that there was a new dimension to his game, and his psyche. He was as impressive in the interview room each day, as he was on the course. He delivered all the right lines and eulogies that, skilfully, deflect the pressure on to his high-profile opponent.

"In the long term Tiger's going to be better than anybody else and he's going to do it more often than anybody else because he's fitter, hits it longer, is the best driver, best iron player and the best putter and that makes him the perfect golfer. In the long run you can't keep up with him. He's going to be No 1 for a long, long time," he said.

Bjorn had so preached Tiger's brilliance that he had forgotten the second half of an essential equation - himself.

And when he did talk of himself, it was with a rare humility. Bjorn has immense natural golfing talent himself while his mind-management is on the verge of being spectacular. He could hit a nine iron where he wanted to, or chip in inches to the pin. Of course, he has terrific flair, too. You don't beat the world number one without that.

Bjorn is also very determined, methodical, calculating and committed, really committed. He is the embodiment of every father's conviction - that a modern sports champion should also be a man of business and the world. He is successfully managed by Guy Kinnings, the IMG agent who also looks after Colin Montgomerie, Ian Woosnam, Bernard Langer, Padraig Harrington and Paul Laurie.

The Dane is also very sure of his identity.

"I think I'm good enough to be in the top ten. That's my goal. Also to win a Major," he said. Bjorn has clearly chosen to keep the race tight for the sake of sport - let's hope he will have his moment of glory, again.