Current crop determined to emulate Europe’s past Masters
It was Paul Lawrie who then shocked the golfing world with his British Open win at Carnoustie in 1999.
Jose Maria Olazabal won the Masters the same year and the 19-year-old Sergio Garcia hunted Tiger Woods home in the US PGA Championship at Medinah later that season, before losing by a single shot.
It is all the more surprising, then, that there hasn’t been a major European winner since. Thomas Bjorn was runner-up at the 2000 British Open at St Andrews, as was Miguel Angel Jimenez at the US Open.
However, they were never in with a chance, losing respectively by eight and 15 shots to Woods. Sweden’s Niclas Fasth came second behind David Duval in the 2001 Open at Lytham, and Thomas Levet was one of three to lose out in a play-off against Ernie Els in the same event at Muirfield in 2002.
Bjorn had a great chance of the British Open at Royal St Georges two years ago only to collapse coming down the stretch and allow Ben Curtis to emerge triumphant. Lots of runner-up spots, to be sure, but no titles.
It’s been a long wait, a point accepted by the European Ryder Cup team after they demolished the Americans last September. At the time, they promised to set the record straight, and this week presents them with the first opportunity of doing so.
Augusta National has been a happy hunting ground for the Euros, with wins since 1982 for Nick Faldo (three), Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer and Olazabal (two each), Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam.
Asked to explain the reason for the drought in his exclusive column in yesterday’s Irish Examiner, Harrington pointed out the six were the best players in the world at the time, whereas nowadays Europe has strength in depth but no player in the top five.
Two more of the leading Europeans, Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood, remain as determined now as they were last September.
“The time has come and it is about time we did it,” Clarke said.
“There was a time when Europeans won nearly all the time but it hasn’t happened for a while. Winning the Ryder Cup doesn’t mean anything when it comes to majors. That was matchplay, this is stroke play.”
Westwood said: “Everybody is playing well. Luke [Donald] did well a couple of weeks ago. I led after two rounds of the Players. Graeme McDowell has played well, Padraig has won, Darren’s playing alright. I can’t explain the six-year gap.
“It’s very difficult to win these days. The standard is so high. For a long time Tiger won everything, you’ve got the likes of Ernie, Vijay and Retief, who aren’t European or American. It’s a global game now and you get global winners. We all play around the world. We can turn our game to any kind of course so I don’t see why we shouldn’t win here as much as say, St Andrews.”
Westwood struggles to conceal his frustration when the media refer to the so-called ‘kids’, like Donald and Ian Poulter, as representing Europe’s best chance of a major.
“Let’s pile the pressure on the young kids, it takes all the pressure off us old guys. I had it when I was young and now I’m old and 31 so let them suffer. Imagine being told you’re old at 31.”
Clarke gave something of an exhibition over Augusta’s back nine late on Monday as he ran off a succession of birdies in a fourball clash between himself and Davis Love III against Westwood and Bjorn.
He agreed his game is in good condition. And thankfully, so too, is his wife Heather, who has battled cancer in recent months.
“She’s doing well, I was at home last week and spent a lot of time with her and the kids,” said Clarke.
“I left the clubs in the States with Billy (his caddy). I was so frustrated after the last round of the Players, I couldn’t be bothered touching the clubs.”
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