- Title: USA: EUROPEAN GOLFERS OPTIMISTIC FOR US OPEN GOLF TOURNAMENT
- Date: 15th June 2005
- Summary: PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA. JUNE 15, 2005 (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 1. WIDE SHOT OF PINEHURST CLUBHOUSE. 2. WIDE SHOT OF GRANDSTAND PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA. JUNE 14, 2005 (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 3. WIDE SHOT OF PRESS CONFERENCE. REPORTER ASKS TIGER WOODS IF LUKE DONALD IS BEST CHOICE FOR A EUROPEAN CANDIDATE TO WIN U.S. OPEN. 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TIGER WOODS SAYING " The way he plays. The way he plods along. I think he's got the greatest chance. Yes." PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA. JUNE 15, 2005 (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) JUNE 15, 2005 5. LUKE DONALD DURING PRACTICE ROUND 6. IAN POULTER PLAYING PRACTICE ROUND 7. THOMAS LEVET OF FRANCE DURING PRACTICE ROUND 8. PAUL CASEY DURING PRACTICE ROUND 9. COLIN MONTGOMERIE DURING PRACTICE ROUND 10. LEE WESTWOOD DURING PRACTICE ROUND 11. THOMAS BJORN DURING PRACTICE ROUND. 12. PAUL MCGINLEY DURING PRACTICE ROUND Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 30th June 2005 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES
- City:
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVABWEG06HKDC7GDJPP8WFPOQGJS
- Story Text: European golfers will try once again attempt to snap
a 35 year-old losing streak at the U.S. Open
The Euro has never been the U.S. Open's currency of
preference with Briton Tony Jacklin the last European to
win the tournament 35 years ago.
All too often, Europe's leading players have struggled
to come to terms with the narrow fairways and thick rough
at a major championship which demands accuracy and
patience.
Ireland's Padraig Harrington and Spaniard Sergio
Garcia, however, believe this trend is likely to end soon
with more and more players from their continent becoming
accustomed to tight U.S. layouts.
"The courses in Europe are being set up with 24-yard
fairways like this and the rough is intended to be heavier
than it is here," Harrington told reporters as he prepared
for Thursday's opening round at the 105th U.S. Open.
"So the European players are getting used to it. Plus
there are more of us playing over here now as the years go
on, so you know it's going to happen sooner or later.
"We're going to get a few wins in the U.S. Open," added
the 33-year-old, who became Ireland's first PGA Tour winner
when he edged out Vijay Singh in a playoff for the Honda
Classic in March.
World number six Garcia, who clinched his sixth PGA
Tour title at the Booz Allen Classic on Sunday, believes
accuracy and not nationality will be the decisive factor
this week. The Spaniard, who is Europe's highest-ranked
player in this week's field of 156.
Many people, including world number one Tiger Woods,
believe Europe's most likely winner at Pinehurst is Ryder
Cup player Luke Donald.
Woods, who has been grouped with the Englishman for the
first two rounds, said earlier this week: "The way he plays
and the way he plods along, I think he's got the greatest
chance".
Donald, who is known for his accuracy from tee to green
and ice-cool focus, was flattered by the praise. He was also tipped by
fellow Englishman Nick Faldo as the most likely Briton to make a
major breakthrough, Donald is banking on his knowledge of American
courses to stand him in good stead this week.
Since turning professional in 2001, he has been based
in the U.S. where his playing schedule is focused on the
PGA Tour.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
