How time flies! It seems like yesterday I was sat here writing about the 2017 D+D Real Czech Masters kicking off Team Europe's qualification campaign. Now, Thomas BjØrn has his entourage. Robert Karlsson will be joined by Luke Donald, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood as Team Europe Vice-Captains.

Much has been made of the foursome's golfing prowess (two Major champions and two former World Number Ones), but the wealth of Ryder Cup experience (and successful experience, crucially) is what will concern those on the other side of the pond. These are men who know how to win the Ryder Cup. That said, all bar Donald have tasted defeat as part of Team Europe in the past. It may not have been in their minds at the time, but those defeats could very well have helped the cases of Westwood, Harrington and McDowell as BjØrn assessed his options.

On top of the Vice-Captains announcement, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth this week signals the beginning of the inflated points system. From this week through to August's Made in Denmark, points for European Tour events will be multiplied by 1.5 on the World Points List and the European Points List.

There's plenty of time to go, but there's certainly reason to get excited as BjØrn & Co. prepare Team Europe's attempt to regain the title.

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com