With the European Tour resuming at the Volvo Golf Champions in Durban, it is worth remembering that the season is already five events old. At this early stage, Thomas Bjorn lays atop the summit of the Race to Dubai.

2013 was something of a continuing renaissance for the intelligent and interesting Dane, who finished tenth on the money list last season. Claiming the Omega European Masters for a second time in three years, the 42-year-old would then go onto finish second in the World Cup of Golf at Royal Melbourne. A 15th European Tour win was to come, however, with a two-shot victory at the Nedbank Challenge in December a deserving reward for his stellar form during the second half of the year.

It was a sustained level of performance that Bjorn believes rivals his form shown in 2001, when he stared down Tiger Woods (at his peak) in a duel at the Dubai Desert Classic. Subsequent years weren’t to be as rewarding, with injuries and frustration beginning to take its toll. However, he would win his first event for three years in 2010, before embarking on a three-win season in 2011 that restored the three-time major championship runner-up to his rightful place among the elite on the Tour.

After finishing 101st and 91st on the money list in 2008 and 2009 respectively, Bjorn rededicated himself to the game. It’s been a long process, but one that has allowed him to believe in himself once again.

“I was just very determined to give myself one more chance of playing with the best in the world and not finish my career on a low.

"It takes a long time to get back to absolutely believing that you are turning into that player again.

“I have to say the end of last year was probably my best golf since 2000/2001. That's a long time. I probably never really 100% believed that I was going to play that well again.”

With six victories in three years, Bjorn is certainly back to his best. But how far can this renaissance go? A major championship victory has eluded him, with his disastrous loss at Royal St Georges in 2003 being his greatest opportunity. However, for someone so deeply rooted and committed to the European Tour, a return to the Ryder Cup would be a fitting crescendo to his resurgence.

It’s been 12 years since Bjorn last competed in the biennial competition, but a return is now more than a minor possibility. However, the pragmatic Dane is simply focussing on this week, this month, knowing that all will take care of itself should he perform well enough.

“I've got off to a fantastic start in the qualifying and I've had it in the back of my mind I want to play in another Ryder Cup,” Bjorn said. “However, I still have a lot to do to get there, but then making the team sits there on the list and people are going to talk about it and I'm starting to get the questions, especially at home.”

“But the focus will stay on the very short future and not something that happens in eight months' time.”

Being asked questions is certainly not a new concept for him.

As many will be aware, Bjorn has worn two hats for some time. In addition to his continuing successful playing career, he became Chairman of the Tournament Committee in 2007. In this capacity, he plays the often-unseen political game, attempting to keep Europe’s leading players on side during times of uncertainty surrounding the game’s most global professional circuit.

“I enjoy doing it. It has its surprises once in a while that you might not enjoy so much but any job you take on in the world would be like that.

“I feel I have the confidence of the players and as long as I do that it is something I will continue to do.

“We get a lot of things done. It might not look like it at times but we do,” added the likeable Dane.

History has always maintained that the European Tour will struggle to compete with the colossus that is the PGA Tour, which has only been further underlined by the financial crisis that has engulfed many of the Tour’s heartlands in recent years. Bjorn fully accepts that that the European circuit may forever play second fiddle to its United States based counterpart.

“We can still have a tour that works even though we have a tour in America that is bigger and stronger.

“We have just got to realise that this is the case and the European Tour might never be as strong as the PGA Tour.”

It may never be as strong, but Bjorn is adamant and working tirelessly to ensure that when he does finally relieve himself of this position, the Tour will be in a better position than what it was when he started seven years ago. “I was very determined when I became chairman that I didn't want to leave it in a worse place when I finish the job,” he said.

“We have gone through a really, really rough time in the world financially and that's something that we probably felt more than anybody. We are coming out of it now and hopefully we can start growing again.”

And hopefully Bjorn’s own game continues to grow along with it. As he prepares to get underway in Durban, his focus is on producing a strong start to the season. “They are hugely important tournaments these first four weeks, with the Middle East after this week, and you can pick up a lot of good World Ranking points and get yourself in position for the season where you've got a good chance of fighting for a lot of things. 

“It's an important time of the year to get some confidence up, get a good start and feel like you can compete.  With good memories from the back end of last year the confidence should be there.”

And it’s a confidence that may see him part of gaze towards the rolling hills of Perthshire in the colours of Team Europe once again at Gleneagles.