Proudest moment, why he took the decision to retire and what's next - Alexander Björk in his own words ahead of DP World Tour farewell
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Alexander Björk surprised many when he announced his retirement from professional golf last year at the age of 35.
Almost 12 months on, and as planned, the Swede will this week make his 179th and final appearance on the DP World Tour in the Danish Golf Championship at Great Northern.
Since turning professional in 2009, Björk has progressed through the ranks from the Nordic Golf League to the HotelPlanner Tour and then the DP World Tour, before also plying his trade on the PGA TOUR in 2024.
That was the result of a campaign on the DP World Tour in 2023 that saw him finish a career-best 11th on the Race to Dubai Rankings after nine top tens - two as runner-up.
He became a DP World Tour winner at the Volvo China Open in 2018, edging out Adrian Otaegui by one shot, the same year he reached a career-high 59th on the Official World Golf Ranking.
Since graduating from the HotelPlanner Tour in 2016, he has finished a runner-up on five occassions and amassed more than €7.5 million on golf's global Tour.
Ahead of bidding farewell to life as a professional golfer, Björk spoke to the DP World Tour about why he took the decision to call it a day, his proudest moment on the course, having no regrets and what's next for him.
You were playing very good golf as recently as 2023, what prompted your decision to retire?
Alexander Björk: I thought I was away too much from the family. I wanted to spend more time with my kids and my wife and I think that in the end made the joy for golf a little less as well. I think that combination between wanting to be home more and a little less joy for golf at the same time made the decision in the end. I felt that for me the only decision was to stop playing and I'm happy with that decision. I've not regretted it so far the year I've been away, so it feels good at the moment.
This moment has clearly been coming for some time, how happy are you to be going out on your own terms?
Björk: That feels good. It's completely my own decision and that feels good to be able to take that decision. It's something that I've been thinking quite a bit on it. I'm really happy with the career I had. Obviously there are some things... I wanted to win more times. I won one time but I'm happy with the win I have, for example. So, there are things I will miss and things I will not miss. It's a tough decision, but in the end I felt like I needed to take it for myself.
You intimated at it there, but do you have any regrets or what you would call unfinished business?
Björk: I mean, a few things. Like I said, I would have wanted to win more times. Obviously, it's really tough to win a tournament. I have, I don't know, four or five seconds \[runner-up finishes\]. Somewhere deep down, I feel like maybe I should... You cannot say that, but I feel like I should have won maybe a few more times. Besides that, I always played my best. I don't really regret anything. I feel like I've tried my best all the time and yeah, no regrets really.
You have had a lot of experiences on the DP World Tour, a lot of highs. Can you pinpoint a fondest memory?
Björk: That would be my win in China. The moment when I realised I'm a DP World Tour winner was the proudest moment of my career, so that's something I will always carry with me.
12 years ago, you made your debut on the DP World Tour at the Madeira Islands Open. How different do you feel as a golfer and a man to then?
Björk: I mean, that was a long time ago! I remember that tournament specifically because it took like four days to play one round, starting on a Thursday, finished on a Sunday. Yeah, golf wise, I'm a little different, probably a different man as well. it's been a good ride on the Tour for me.
What are you going to miss most about life on Tour?
Björk: The moments on the golf course when you have the chance to win or chance to do a really good tournament. I think like those moments when you hole a winning putt or something, I think that's going to be what I miss the most.
You had a year on the PGA TOUR and over the next few weeks many of the dual member class of 2025 will be coming back to play on the DP World Tour – what advice would you give to players making that transition into life in America?
Björk: Tough to say, I think if you want to do it I think you should get some sort of base in the US. Really make the decision if you want to play in the US, make the move over there. I did not make that \[decision\] because I had too much I wanted back home. I mean it's different, the DP \[World Tour\] feels like a big family. That was not how I experienced the US. So be ready for a tougher atmosphere, more competitive between players than it is out here off the course and everything. I didn't feel like it was the same warm environment.
What is next for you? Will we still see you in the golf world?
Björk: At the moment I don't know. I'm trying to figure out what I want to do next. When I stopped last year I felt like 'okay, it's not going to be golf.' Now I feel more open to golf or sports in general. The future will tell but I'm trying to figure out what I want to do at the moment. It can be within golf, it can be away from golf. I'm not sure at the moment.
This week must feel completely different, the outlook and how you are feeling while playing the tournament. How important is how you perform this week?
Björk: It feels really strange coming back after a year away. I've not played much golf this year. I played a bit the last few weeks, but I mean, given that this time of the year normally I've played like, I don't know, 50, 100 rounds. I think this year I've played seven so it's very different from normal. I mean, when you go to the first tee you always want to play well. You're going to try your best with every shot but I'm not going to put any pressure because I haven't played a tournament in a year so I'm going to feel a bit rusty I guess as well. I just hope to have a really nice week.
READ MORE
• Danish Golf Championship: Five things to know
• Great Northern - Get to know the DP World Tour's newest venue
• Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen finding energy in home comforts at Danish Golf Championship
