Europeans are primed for Open success, says Gallacher
THREE-TIME Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher believes British players have stolen a march on their American counterparts – and fully expects a home winner in this week’s Open Championship at St Andrews.
Irishman Padraig Harrington is the only European to have lifted the Claret Jug in the last decade, with the United States claiming 11 of the last 15 winners since John Daly tasted success here at the Home of Golf in 1995.
But since Stewart Cink continued that trend with victory at Turnberry 12 months ago, the Europeans have fought back and now account for half of the world’s top 20 positions.
Graeme McDowell bagged his first Major success at the US Open last month, while Justin Rose, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy have all won on the PGA Tour this season.
Gallacher said: “I think this is a new era. We had it in the 1980s and I think we’re reaching out to another golden era led by Padraig Harrington, a three-time Major champion.
“Graeme McDowell’s victory at the US Open will inspire this generation. But there are so many players. I will be very disappointed if Lee Westwood doesn’t win a Major this year.
“Ian Poulter won the World Matchplay and of course Rory has been doing so well. There’s also Justin Rose. Paul Casey hasn’t won a Major yet but he’ll be knocking on the door.
“I don’t want to say who will win it but I think it will be a European.”
l Meanwhile, in-form Rose has been drawn alongside world No1 Tiger Woods for the first two rounds of the Open, which starts on Thursday.
Rose will tee off at 9.09am alongside Woods and Colombian Camilo Villegas, while
reigning champion Stewart Cink opens his defence alongside Ian Poulter and another former champion, Ernie Els.
European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie pairs up with world No2 Phil Mickelson and Retief Goosen.
THE OPEN | SELECTED TEE TIMES
08.20 – Lucas Glover (US), Rory McIlroy (NI), Tim Clark (SA)
08.42 – Ian Poulter (Eng), Ernie Els (SA), Stewart Cink (USA)
09.09 – Tiger Woods (USA), Justin Rose (Eng), Camilo Villegas (Col)
09.20 – Padraig Harrington (Ire), Ryo Ishikawa (Jap), Tom?Watson (USA)
12.47 – Luke Donald (Eng), YE?Yang (Kor), Ricky Barnes (USA)
13.31 – Paul Casey (Eng), Angel Cabrera (Arg), Rickie Fowler (USA)
13.42 – Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa), Lee Westwood (Eng), Adam Scott (Aus)
13.53 – Jim Furyk (USA), Graeme McDowell (NI), Geoff Ogilvy (Aus)
14.09 – Hiroyuki Fujita (Jap), Steve Stricker (USA), Sergio Garcia (Spa)
14.20 – Colin Montgomerie (Sco), Phil Mickelson (USA), Retief Goosen (SA)
14.31 – Rhys Davies (Wal), Edoardo Molinari (Ita), Justin Leonard (USA)