European Domination at Royal Birkdale

The leaderboard at next week’s British Open will have a lot of European flavor.

Thrash TalkThe 137th British Open Championship begins one week from today, and the golf course for this year’s event is Royal Birkdale. Tiger Woods is on the shelf after knee surgery and will be missing his first major championship as a professional. To say things are wide open is a huge understatement. This is one of the most intriguing majors in awhile.

It’s no secret the Europeans have struggled in majors over the past decade or so. In fact, they have only won three since 1997. Two of those came at the British Open, and both were played at Carnoustie (Paul Lawrie in 1999 and Padraig Harrington in 2007).

The European domination in the Ryder Cup in recent years is also well-documented, and that makes the major struggles even more surprising. If there was ever a time for them to have a great shot at winning more majors, it’s right now with Tiger on the injury list. Currently, there are six Europeans ranked inside the top 20 in the Official World Golf Rankings, and they are primed for a big week at Royal Birkdale.

Which European golfers will have the best shot at contending and winning next week’s British Open? Also, which golfers from across the pond have a decent chance at making a surprise appearance near the top of the leaderboard? Keep reading to find out.

Robert Karlsson
Robert Karlsson has all the tools to win majors, and he is playing very well right now. The big Swede is currently a close second on the European Tour Order of Merit. He doesn’t have any victories since 2006, but he has been a fixture in the top 10 all year. These solid finishes include a tie for eighth at The Masters and a tie for fourth the U.S. Open. In fact, he is one of only four golfers to finish in the top 10 in both majors this season.

Karlsson’s history in the British Open is awful to say the least. In 12 appearances, he has only made the cut three times. His best finish was a tie for fifth back in 1992. While the history doesn’t show much promise, the Swede is a different golfer right now than he has been in the past. He has proven over and over he can handle the pressure, and it’s his time to step up and win a big one. Robert Karlsson is my pick to win next week at Royal Birkdale. Yeah, you read that right.

Sergio Garcia
Sergio GarciaSergio Garcia will be the favorite by many to win the Claret Jug next week. The young Spaniard came close to winning the British Open in 2006, and he came even closer last year at Carnoustie. Tiger Woods outplayed him on Sunday two years ago at Royal Liverpool, and Padraig Harrington beat him in a playoff last year at Carnoustie. Garcia had a putt at the 72nd hole to win it all in 2007, but he couldn’t will it in. This event has definitely slipped threw his fingertips on multiple occasions.

Close calls aside, Sergio is playing very well right now and has had a great season. He won The Players a couple months back and finished in a tie for 18th at the U.S. Open. He also finished second this past week at the European Open. He is playing well in the United States, and more importantly, he is playing well in Europe. This should bode well for him next week at Royal Birkdale. It will be a surprise if Garcia’s name isn’t near the top of the leaderboard for a third consecutive year.

Padraig Harrington
Only Tiger Woods and Tom Watson have won back-to-back British Open Championships in the last 30 years or so, but Padraig Harrington has the game and demeanor to do it as well. He hasn’t been great in 2008, but he finished in a tie for fifth at The Masters and always seems to put himself in the hunt at majors. He is also coming off a tie for 17th at the European Open this past weekend.

The Irishman outlasted Sergio Garcia last year at Carnoustie to win his first-career major. Before that victory, Harrington’s name was always mentioned when talking about some of the best golfers without a major. Now that the pressure has been lifted, he should have a solid chance at keeping the Claret Jug for another year. He bounces back from bad holes better than almost anyone in the world, and that will help him greatly next week. There will be a lot of bogeys at Royal Birkdale.

Possible European Surprises
There are a lot of European golfers playing well right now, and Ross Fisher is the first name that comes to mind. Fisher is coming off a seven-shot win at the European Open this past weekend and is currently sixth on the European Tour Order of Merit. The young Englishman doesn’t have a great history at the British Open, but he playing so well right now he deserves some attention.

Martin Kaymer is the next guy on the list. The young German could become one of the best in the world in the near future, and he has had a great 2008 season so far. Kaymer has two wins on the European Tour this year and is currently eighth on the Order of Merit. He made the cut but didn’t play great at the two earlier majors this season, but he could make some serious waves at Royal Birkdale next week.

Soren Hansen is the last guy worth mentioning. The Denmark native is currently 15th on the Order of Merit, but he has played very well the past couple weeks. He is coming off a third-place finish at the Open de France and a fifth-place finish at the European Open. Hansen goes about his business very quietly, but he could make some noise at this year’s British Open.

The Final Say
The Europeans are going to dominate this year’s British Open, but there will be a few Internationals and Americans sprinkled in as well. It wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see guys like Stewart Cink and Hunter Mahan do well for the American side, and guys like Geoff Ogilvy and Ernie Els should keep the International flavor alive. That being said, when it comes down to it, a European will be walking away with the Claret Jug next week.

It’s your turn to tell me what you think. Do you agree a European will win next week’s British Open? If so, which one has the best chance? If not, which guys have a better shot at winning the Claret Jug? If you have anything to add, please comment below or discuss it in the forum. Thanks for reading this week’s Thrash Talk!

Photo Credits: © 2008 The Sand Trap .com.

9 thoughts on “European Domination at Royal Birkdale”

  1. I agree that a european or international will win the claret jug. The american game is just too simplistic – bomb & gauge – to be effective next week. There’s little of the skills required to tackle a links course.

  2. What, no mention of Justin Rose with his history at Birkdale? You’re kidding!

    My pick, Brandt Snedeker.

  3. Justin Rose wasn’t mentioned for a reason. He hasn’t shown me enough in 2008 to warrant a mention. Some of it has to do with his play, but most of it has to do with his nagging back injury. I’d bet for a missed cut before a top 10 from Rosey.

    Also, other than Lefty and Sergio, Rose may get more media attention than anyone else because of his incredible finish at Birkdale in 1998. Things just won’t add up for him next week, but it would be nice to see him play well.

  4. Err, call me a pedant, but isn’t it “the Open”, not “the British Open”

  5. Err, call me a pedant, but isn’t it “the Open”, not “the British Open”

    Never fails. 😛 It’s the British Open to most Americans. We have an “Open” of our own.

  6. Nicely done. Enjoyed reading the article. I agree with those players but I was surprised to not hear a mention of Lee Westwood though. I like his chances. Andres Romero is another I like to do well.

  7. Excellent article! My money is on Sergio. Like you said, he is in top form right now and I think he will take this into the British Open next week.

  8. In a rush – until Sunday I would have asked how you could leave out Lee Westwood? He’s been playing great and his performance at the European Open at the links-style London Club just oozed the confidence of a man whose preparations for the big one were going just fine.
    Then his putting deserted him over the last few holes at Loch Lomond.
    But he seems to have the mental strength to come back so I expect he will be there or thereabouts.
    Brandt Schnedeker – hmmmmm. I would have been totally dismissive but the conditions at Augusta were more US Open-like than Masters-like. If he can cope with the wind, then a top-10 showing could be on. And if he does that, he could go away satisfied.
    Agree about Justin Rose. His overall trend is upwards but he seems right now to be in a ‘one step back’ phase.

  9. Since Royal Birkdale became an Open venue in 1954, the seven men who have become “Champion Golfer of the Year” have been either American ( Palmer, Trevino, Miller, Watson and O’Meara ) or Australian ( Peter Thomson and Ian Baker-Finch ). To my knowledge, no European has won the open at Birkdale. For my two cents, the Birkdale curse will prevail: no European winner at the 2008 Open.

    Otherwise, a fine article Cody.

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