Twenty years after he helped continue Europe’s then-dominance of the Majors with his victory at the Masters Tournament, Welshman Ian Woosnam has predicted more glory for Europe at The 140th Open Championship.
With European Tour Members having won the last five Majors Woosnam is delighted to see a return to the halcyon days of the 1980s and ‘90s when, along with the late, great Spaniard Seve Ballesteros, Sir Nick Faldo of England, Germany’s Bernhard Langer and Scotland’s Sandy Lyle, he was a member of the ‘Famous Five’ of European golf.
Between them that quintet won a grand total of 16 Major titles and, whilst the likes of the Northern Irish duo Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, winners of the last two US Open Championships, and reigning US PGA Champion Martin Kaymer of Germany still have some way to go before they can be classed in the same bracket, Woosnam expects a European Tour Member to be lifting the Claret Jug on Sunday night.
He said: “It’s a wonderful time for European golf at the moment – the Tour is probably the strongest it’s ever been. More and more people are sitting up and taking notice of European golf now, because it’s so strong and so entertaining. Obviously winning The Ryder Cup back last year helped, and it has just gone on from there. On a global scale, you’d have to say The European Tour is probably leading the way right now.
“Of the current crop, any one of them could win The Open – the strength in depth on the Tour now is that good. Rory McIlroy’s obviously in fabulous form, and I’d love to see Lee Westwood win it. He’s put such a lot into his game, and done so much for the good of the game over the past 15 years, that I feel he deserves it. He’s been knocking on the door for a few years now, so it’d be great to see him get a first Major under his belt, which could open the floodgates for him.”
As for the reasons for Europe’s renaissance in recent years, Woosnam believes that the healthy rivalry amongst the players – which the Welshman experienced in his heyday – has acted as the catalyst for the enormous success that European Tour Members have enjoyed on a global scale.
Since Ireland’s Padraig Harrington got the ball rolling with his victory at The Open Championship at Carnoustie in 2007, belief has seemingly coursed through the veins of his peers – which is reflected in the Official World Golf Ranking, with European Tour Members currently filling the top four places.
Woosnam said: “It’s been a gradual process, but over the last decade the gap between the US PGA and The European Tours has closed year on year. That’s mainly down to the fact that as soon as you start having Major success, it breeds more success. That was what happened back in the 1980s and ‘90s – Sandy Lyle was an exceptional player, and we all aspired to match his achievements. If your friend wins, you think to yourself: “If he can do it, then why can’t I?” So it spurs you on.
“We’ve seen that with Padraig Harrington breaking the drought a few years back, and others have followed his lead since. It’s the same with the guys at the top of the World Ranking – it’s maybe no coincidence that Luke Donald started playing some of his best golf after Lee Westwood went to the top of the Ranking.”
Before very long, however, Woosnam expects another European to be sitting pretty at the head of world golf: a certain Mr McIlroy.
Like everyone else in the game, Woosnam was astounded by the young Ulsterman’s devastating display at Congressional Country Club last month, when he left the cream of world golf trailing in his wake. And what impressed the Welshman most about McIlroy’s precocious performance was its simplicity.
He said: “Unfortunately I was travelling at the time so I only got to hear the last few holes in the car, but I watched the replay in full the next day, and I was unbelievably impressed. What was fantastic was that he just chose his club, and hit the ball. There was no messing around or over-complicating things, it was just so natural, which was so refreshing to see.
“He plays the game like he’s always done – just because you turn professional, it doesn’t mean you have to start changing the methods which have brought you success in the past. It was such a joy to watch – there wasn’t a moment’s hesitation or doubt in his mind. If he continues to play like that it’s surely only a matter of time before he becomes World Number One. At the age of 22, that’s already some achievement and he’s only going to get better – which is a frightening prospect for the rest of the guys out there.”
