US OPEN/Countdown: You figure it's one of the great mysteries of his time, just why European players find it so hard, if not impossible, to win a US Open. You figure that Nick Faldo has analysed, scrutinised and agonised over it for much of his career and remained little the wiser for the reason why it should be so, writes Philip Reid in Chicago
"Maybe, it's because the courses are just so different to European golf courses," he muses, behind the back of the giant clubhouse here at Olympia Fields, adding: "If you miss the green, you're in trouble. Every one shot sprayed is one shot too many."
The real truth is there is no reason why Europeans - especially in a golden era that included the Faldos and Langers, the Ballesteros and Olazabals, and the Lyles and the Montgmeries - haven't managed a genuine breakthrough.
Tony Jacklin, in 1970, is the last European winner. Before him, you have to trace all the way back to Scotland's Tommy Armour in 1927. Of all the majors, this has been a barren one for European invaders.
Yesterday, Padraig Harrington was in a different time zone - on the east coast of the US, leaking shots on his way home in the delayed final round of the Capital Open to finish in tied-13th behind Rory Sabbatini - to those already present in Chicago. But his name was being mentioned as being possibly the best equipped of the European challengers to end that drought since Jacklin's win.
Few players on tour know or appreciate Harrington's rise as much as Thomas Bjorn. They were rivals for "rookie of the year" when they first arrived on the tour and have been at competitive loggerheads ever since. Most recently their play-off duel in the TPC of Europe saw the Dubliner emerge as a winner, and he knows how hard Harrington has worked to reach a status as a genuine world-class player.
"Padraig has come a long way, and turned into a very fine player," insisted Bjorn. "When you work as hard as he does, and do the things that he does, you deserve to get the rewards and for things to be happening for you. He's been a long time waiting and he's certainly going in the right direction. I don't think there is anybody out here on tour that doesn't appreciate what he does. We see the effort and time that he puts in to it. It just goes to show that you have to put hard work in, and that nothing comes to you easy."
Such a sentiment is not unique. Colin Montgomerie's graph has waned as Harrington's has risen, but the Scot is appreciative of the fact Harrington is now the European most likely to end a US Open drought.
"Padraig is living proof of what hard work can do," said Monty. "He is definitely the hardest working professional on the European Tour, and it's paying off for him. He has time on his side right now."
Harrington flew in from Washington last evening and will get his first look at the Olympia Fields course today. In contrast, Darren Clarke - fourth in the British Masters on Sunday - flew in by private jet along with Justin Rose on Sunday evening and managed to practice on the course last evening. The two Irishmen also plan to have a couple of sessions over the coming days with Dr Bob Rotella, the sports psychologist they share.
"I spoke with Darren on the phone a couple of days ago and he told me he's having problems on the greens," admitted Rotella.
For the first two rounds, Harrington has been paired with Justin Leonard and Charles Howell (tee times: Thursday 2 p.m. Irish time; Friday 7 p.m.) while Clarke has been included in a group along with Jim Furyk and Phil Mickelson (tee times: Thursday 6.30 p.m. Irish time; Friday 1.30 p.m.).
For most players, yesterday was a day for finding their feet and getting a first look at a course which Faldo describes as being "all in front of you, a course that is all about accuracy and not length". Bjorn was having his second practice round since his arrival. He had originally intended to play in the British Masters but pulled out after sticking a knife into one of his fingers. "I was doing what men shouldn't do, working in the kitchen," he quipped, of an incident that has left no long-term problem.
Instead, he rearranged his plans and arrived over to Chicago earlier than intended. Yesterday, he was out at seven in the morning for a practice round with Tiger Woods - and, like Faldo, he observed that it wasn't a course where the really big hitters will have a great advantage.
"At first look, it is not that difficult," observed Bjorn, "but, like any US open course, if you approach it with the wrong attitude it will come back and bite you. You have to have a game plan. Don't try and force anything. Bethpage last year was a very powerful player's golf course. Here, you think your way around. It's going to bring a lot more players into it. Last year we knew if Tiger brought a good game with him that he'd have a huge advantage. Here, you don't have to be long . . . you get around by being straight. There'll be a lot of three-woods and two-irons used off the tees."
Indeed, this year's championship has the potential of being a more open US Open than we have seen in recent years.
"It's not overly long, and that definitely opens it up for the rest of the field," conceded Faldo. "It won't be a case of a half dozen (long ball hitters) only having a chance."
