Posted on 08 Apr 2010 at 14:24 PM by
iancatley
It’s now or never for the Europeans, this has got to be their time to show that they can get across the finishing line when it counts. With the exception of Padraig once briefly in the 2008 PGA, this generation of talented group of wannabes has constantly flattered to deceive in top US events. Unless one or more can rise above also-ran status they are destined to remain journeyman, unlike their dullard American counterparts Zach Johnson and Lucas Glover, who somehow managed enough bottle to claim their career fulfilling, lifetime achieving, one and only Majors.
Why is it that Campbell, Ogilvy, Immelman and Cabrera (twice) can steel themselves to overcome the massive pressure of a Major but just when the Europeans look like ending the years of drought, they self-destruct? Surely now is the time.
Woods has got to be ring-rusty (excuse the pun), smarmy Mickelson is all over the place off the tee (please God not him!), most of the rest of the Americans are lightweights. If the Europeans can’t deliver now, will they ever?
Nothing against Furyk, who has been showing some form, but it is difficult to see a stand-out among the home contingent. Watney and O’Heir would not be a complete surprise. If you want to insure against the disappointment of a ‘home win’, then how about Kim and although clearly not American but a product of the US Tour, Villegas? These guys stand out from the usual parochial ranks because they travel. Kim is brash and rash, not everybody’s cup of tea but he ruffled a few home feathers when choosing to play in the Gulf rather than in Hawaii and Arizona on the US Tour. He considers golf a ‘global’ came and unlike his compatriots realises that ‘global’ means not just in the ‘good ol’ US of A’. If it’s got to be an American, then let’s hope it’s the kid Kim, recent form and the best round at Augusta last year, would certainly give him a serious chance.
While I would not want to put anyone off another South African or Australian win and there are plenty of good chances to choose from, surely it’s got to be a European.
Are you getting frustrated with Lee John Westwood? How many times can he put us through the emotional wringer and keep faith with him? I would love him to win; he has been a terrific ambassador for English and European golf but can he cut out those devastating moments of destruction on Sundays. I doubt it. The pundits will push the claims of Luke ‘too nice to win’ Donald, Paul Casey, Oliver ‘can’t buy a win’ Wilson, Ross Fisher and of course young Rory but would you want them carrying your money all four days? If you fancy one of those, I would wait to see if they are still in contention come Saturday or Sunday, when they should still be a decent price. Forget Garcia, anyone who putts like that can’t be a contender in the Masters. Poulter would be a breath of fresh air for golf and I would love him to come up the last in the lead and fluorescent pink, just imagine him swanning up along Magnolia Drive next year in a green jacket. But the guy I think can carry our hopes, quietly and with dignity is Graeme McDowall, softly spoken, in the shadow of his younger countryman but top twenty last year, unspectacular yet challenging so far this and best of all he is 125/1.
So forget Tiger, dismiss those boring Yanks and please, please, please let it be a European.