European Tour players shine on last day

It was two years ago when Ian Woosnam conceded that of course Americans would do better than European players in the major tournaments. The reason Woosnam gave was the Yanks were a bit more self-involved than their counterparts across the pond.

Sunday, notice was served that there's a new breed of European Tour player on the rise. No longer will they be considered the Euro Trash of the professional golf world. There are more quality players than ever before matriculating from the European Tour, and the final leaderboard at the Valhalla Golf Club in the 82nd PGA Championship gave proof to the trend. Four of the top eight players are either current or former card-carrying members of the European circuit.

Bob May, who pushed Tiger Woods through a three-hole playoff after shooting his third consecutive 66 on Sunday, cut his competitive teeth during a four-year stretch on the European Tour, climbing the world rankings to the 47th spot.

Ryder Cup veteran Thomas Björn, nicknamed "the Great Dane," finished third at 13-under par 275. Australian Greg Chalmers, who has played on the PGA Tour for the past two years and the European circuit for three years, finished in a tie for fourth place at 12-under par 276.

He was tied with Stuart Appleby and two-time Masters champion and 18-time European Tour winner José Maria Olazábal. If that's not enough, Ireland's Darren Clarke, who was second on the European Order of Merit coming into the PGA Championship, finished in a six-way tie for ninth at 9-under par 279.

"The game of golf has grown all over the world," said Olazábal, "so it stands to reason that the game would grow and improve in Europe as well. Not only that, but over the past few years, we've become much more professional on the European Tour. I know we're all working harder, and we're much better prepared to contend in major championships. The answer is that simple. People shouldn't be surprised at the improvement in the quality of play in Europe."

Chalmers wasn't so sure that there is any particular reason why there's an emergence of European quality in major championship competition.

"It might just be coincidence," said the Perth, Australia, resident. "I've been here for the last two years, and I'm glad that I spent three years in Europe before I came here. I was able to have a chance to improve my game and gather some confidence before I came here to America. It was really a great experience."

Björn, who has emerged as a top player on the East Coast of the Atlantic, champions the re-emergence of European play on a worldwide basis.

"European golf has gone through a period of time where there were five or six world-class players on the top of the world ranking for a period of 15 years. Now there are a lot of new faces and younger players that have played majors now for three or four years," he said.

"They're getting used to playing majors, and they're getting used to competing in majors. That's the key reason that Europeans have done well in the majors this year. We haven't won, but still we are getting up there and we're contending."

Björn had a reasonably successful run in the major championships this year. The 29-year old Dane who has emigrated to Dubai, finished tied for 28th in the Masters and tied for 46th in the U.S. Open due to one bad round in each championship. He ironed out those problems and with four sub-par rounds finished in a tie for second in the Open.

"I had a good run in the majors," he said. "I got myself up there at Pebble Beach (U.S. Open) and got caught up a bit in the Tigermania on Saturday, and that was a tough day for me (an 82). I bounced back at the Open, and I played well this week. I've been really trying to get my game in shape for the major championships. It just shows me that I'm good enough to do it."

Björn will continue to play the majority of his golf on the continent.

"I'll definitely play more over here," he said. "I like playing over here, but I don't know about taking up a membership. My family is very happy in Europe. It would be a big move for us."

Thomas Bjorn finished the leading European for the second Major in a row. Allsport

There was little surprise with any of the Europeans that May was giving Woods all he could handle. It was the same fortitude he showed on the European Tour.

"I think the guys in Europe know he is a really good player," said Björn, "and he is very, very tough when he is up there and he's very hard to beat. Bob is the sort of guy that it doesn't matter who he is playing against. If it's somebody he has never met before or it's Tiger Woods, he doesn't really care."

After May's performance over the past week, referring to the European Tour as just more Euro Trash is becoming passe. The European veterans are acquiring an attitude over there and May just might have become the poster boy for that attitude.

"It is all about attitude," offered Chalmers, "and Bob has got a great attitude. I've known him for four or five years now since I first went to Q-School in Europe, and he was there. What he's done this week doesn't surprise me at all."

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