Faldo Predicts European Dominance
European golf legend, Sir Nick Faldo, says he is expecting a new golden era for golf in Europe after Graeme McDowell’s success at the U.S. Open.
Faldo was one of the best of his generation when he walked the greens as a professional player and he says that the breakthrough in America should be used as a chance by all European golfers to express their dominance in the sport.
Big name American players have historically dominated golf and that has beem no different in the modern age. The likes of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have won more titles than anyone else and that makes it important for golfers in Europe to do what they can to change the swing of dominance.
Faldo also said that there are a high number of key European players who were all playing well at the moment and should be considered favourites for the Open in Scotland next month. This form should fill Europeans with confidence ahead of the Ryder Cup.
Pressure and Exposure
There are many reasons why golf players from America have been able to rise to the top of the game. They are subjected to a great deal of pressure and exposure at a very early age and this means they are no strangers to difficult situations once they start playing on full tours.
Americans have been able to produce a great amount of consistency and this is what made McDowell’s win at the US Open so surprising. He became the first non-American player to win the major since 1970 and this is a huge gap when you consider the quality of many European players over the past 40 years.
Golf is one of the most high profile sports in America while many other sports dominate across Europe. There is greater incentive for American golf players to succeed because the benefits of doing so are much greater than during some of the tournaments on the European tour.
The new opportunity from across the pond
In the last few years, European players who take up a slot on the European Ryder Cup team have done very well against their American opponents. This suggests that there is more togetherness among the European camp and this could be used to help promote a new era in European golf.
Most of the European high profile players play with and around each other in many of the tournaments they take part in. They know each other and want each other to do well. They help each other to keep momentum going when someone has done well and this will be the same in McDowell’s case. There won’t be any jealousy just respect and a want to collectively succeed.
Faldo also suggests that the problems that have surrounded one or two American players could also help Europe move into a new age of golf. Tiger Woods is still recovering fromt the huge hit that his reputation took over the recent revelations in his personal life and the majority of the players in the European camp do not have any similar issues to address while they are playing.
Advice
To European players: just sit back for now and watch the form of the Europeans and the Americans over the next week in the build up to the Open. You will be able to make a more calculated bet on who will win the Open by the time it starts.
If you have a hunch in relation to the Ryder Cup then by all means go with your instincts. However, keep in mind that an event like this can eradicate form, as all of the players involved will up the ante and their own game.
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