European entourage all set to claim the Masters after a decade – Golf news
European dominance in golf has reached such a pinnacle that it would be utterly pessimistic not to bet on them winning this year’s first major, ‘The Masters’, at the Augusta National. Five of the top golfers in the world rankings are Europeans except Phil
Mickelson, who just managed to clinch the third slot after winning the Houston Open on the weekend.
They have won two of three last majors, as Martin kaymer clinched the PGA Championship, Graeme McDowell won the US Open and they are also the winner of the coveted Ryders Cup at Celtic Manor, this year. With Tiger Woods career lurking in obscurity, there
is but one American rival who will challenge the Europeans and that is none other but Mickelson himself.
Woods and Mickelson, combined have won the tournament six times in the last ten years. Mickelson’s romp to a big win at the Houston open with his stunning 18 birdies beacons to a formidable challenge which he will prove to be for the European entourage.
“It seems that everyone has pretty much got Mickelson in the green jacket Sunday evening and there's not much use in turning up at this point,” McDowell said with a grin. “He's a great player around Augusta, and if you finish ahead of him, you've got a decent
chance. There's no shortage of great players, especially in Britain and Ireland.”
Seve Ballesteros was the first European to have donned the green jacket. Nick faldo won the tournament three times while Ballestros, Jose Maria Oalazabal and Bernhard Langer all clinched the tournament twice. From the 1960’s to 1980’s, the championship was
completely a one-sided affair as Arnold palmer and Jack Nicklaus ruled the sport. Europeans lifted the title no less than 11 times in the 1980’s and 1990’s and when the World Golf Rankings made their debut in 1986, the three top seeds turned out to be Europeans.
It has been a long and dry decade for the Europeans at the Masters with Olazabal winning the last Masters title in 1999. There was not one European who managed to stay in top ten the next year. Lee Westwood’s rampage to the top slot last year was brought
to a sad end by Mickelson’s solid putting, who won the tournament by a three stroke lead for the third time.
Many young golfers on part of Europe will be participating in the tournament, who will try to reincarnate history with their juvenile experience. Justin Ross and Ian Poulter are two of the notable contenders. “It would be nice to recreate some of that magic,”
Justin Rose said, “And I think this is as good a time as any.”
The Masters at Augusta National is the first officially acknowledged golf championship which is played since 1940, scheduled in a way that the final always falls on the second Sunday of April. The winner at the Masters not only qualifies to play for the
other three majors on the tour for the next five years, but also qualifies for a lifetime invitation to the Masters.
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