European Tour golf stands on the verge of history this week as the focus of the world’s golfing attention centres on Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia for the 75th staging of the Masters Tournament.
With the last three Major titles of 2010 in European Tour Members’ hands, should the Green Jacket go the same way on Sunday night, it will represent the first time in history that all four Major Championships have been held by representatives of The European Tour at the same time.
There is no reason for a lack of confidence either. European Tour Members currently occupy five of the top six places on the Official World Golf Ranking with two of that quintet – Number One Martin Kaymer and Number Five Graeme McDowell – being in that Major winning group.
Indeed, it is a factor that the US PGA Champion and nine time European Tour winner Kaymer admits could be a telling one.
“I do think there is something to be said about having won a Major before,” said the German. “I know the feelings coming down the stretch and I like them. I actually think it is a huge advantage as well especially since Majors are a lot about making as few mistakes as possible.”
It is a feeling shared by the reigning US Open champion McDowell. “I was lucky enough to experience the thrill of winning a Major last year at Pebble Beach and to experience winning the Masters at some point would be a really special feeling,” he said.
“All I can do is work hard and prepare myself as best I can but everyone who knows me knows that to be in the mix on the back nine of a Sunday afternoon at Augusta is a challenge I would relish.”
The remaining European members of the world’s top six – Englishmen Lee Westwood, Luke Donald and Paul Casey – also have very good reasons to take the walk down Magnolia Drive with a spring in their step.
World Number Two Westwood proved 12 months ago that he possesses precisely the game to cope with the unique demands of Augusta National, a superb four day performance eclipsed only by the extraordinary performance of eventual champion Phil Mickelson.
The left handed American was in sublime form to win by three shots and he proved that his game is also in fine fettle for his title defence with victory on the US PGA Tour in the Shell Houston Open last week.
However, Westwood’s 13 under par total last year was ten shots better than his previous best at Augusta and, moreover, his total of 275 would have won 25 of the previous 30 Masters Tournaments and been in the play-off for another two.
“The experience I had there last year will stand me in good stead this time,” said Westwood. “I enjoy Augusta and I always feel like I can do well there. I have been knocking on the door in the Majors now for a few years so hopefully it will open for me soon.
“It would mean a great deal for me to have a Green Jacket draped over my shoulders. It would show that all the sacrifices I have made and all the hard work I have put in were all worthwhile.”
Donald has enjoyed two top ten finishes at Augusta over the years and proved his game is as good as ever with a stunning victory in the World Golf Championships – Accenture Match Play in Arizona a month ago, never being behind or requiring to go to the 18th hole in any of his six matches over the course of the week.
“You can’t win at Augusta National without a strong short game, and I feel very confident in that area at the moment,” he said. “My short game played a big role in my win at the Match Play and I’m looking forward to it helping me at the Masters. Confidence going into the Masters is also a huge asset, and that win certainly has me believing I can compete against the very best players in the world.”
Casey also has two top ten finishes in his locker at Augusta and, like Donald, has also tasted victory this year already, in the inaugural Volvo Golf Champions tournament in Bahrain.
There will be a total of 35 European Tour Members competing at Augusta, part of an overall field of 99 players which represents the largest gathering for the Masters Tournament since 1966.
Part of that number will be two players who will sample the unique Georgian atmosphere for the first time – Sweden’s Peter Hanson, who played a part in Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph at The Celtic Manor Resort last October, and Frenchman Grégory Havret who ran McDowell close in the US Open at Pebble Beach last June.
Also in the field is Scotland’s Sandy Lyle, one of 16 former Masters Champions on show, and one who will make Masters Tournament history by becoming the first European golfer to reach 30 appearances at Augusta National. He first played in 1980 and has taken part in every one since 1985 including, of course, on that memorable Sunday in 1988 when he claimed the title.
In total, nine European Tour Members – Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Sir Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, José Maria Olazábal, Vijay Singh, Trevor Immelman, Angel Cabrera and Lyle – have enjoyed that special Augusta success. What price another being the Master come Sunday?
