Why do european players do so badly at the us open?

Question

Why do european players do so badly at the us open?

Answer 1

I don't call a 3rd place finish doing bad at the U.S Open.  Lee Westwood finished 3rd this year.  Angel Cabrera won last year.  He plays mostly on the European Tour.  Ernie Els has won twice and he plays as much on the European tour as he does on the PGA tour.

Answer 2

it seems that way, even though the last few years there have been some Euros doing well.  

It's totally different in Europe.  Everyone in America wants their course to look like Augusta and/or a US Open event.  The emerald green grass, perfect sand bunkers, rough so deep you can't see your shoes and putting greens like a pooltable top.  

In Europe, they play the course as it is... there isn't a whole lot of manicuring, and if a course plays at 8 (like at your local muni) on the Stimpmeter, so what?  That, along with the links-style courses where the bumb-and-run is better than the sit-and-spin and the incliment weather, make for different factors that Europeans don't normally play for, unless they spend a lot of time on the PGA and a LOT less time on the European tour.