Europeans face another uphill battle at Oak Hill

OAK HILL, the home of the Country Club of Rochester, was good to European golf in 1995 when the visitors somehow pulled off a quite remarkable victory in the Ryder Cup.

Sadly, the prospects for a similar story speeding across the wires on Sunday night next are extremely gloomy.

Europe's best, including the Irish trio of Pádraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley, are all in the field for the US PGA Championship starting at Oak Hill on Thursday but there is scant hope of any returning with the Wanamaker Trophy. Indeed, if a long standing tradition is maintained, the Euros are licked even before they arrive in New York State.