Europeans looking for first US Open win since 1970

It has been 31 long years since a European -- Britain's Tony Jacklin -- won the U.S. Open but this year's contingent has a genuine chance of ending the long drought.

Eighteen Europeans will tee up at Southern Hills on Thursday and rarely have so many been playing so well at the same time.

Sergio Garcia, Bernhard Langer, Jesper Parnevik and perhaps even Nick Faldo represent the continent's best chances but Thomas Bjorn, Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke cannot be discounted either.

To win they will have to overcome steamy heat, a demanding course unlike any they play the rest of the year, as well as a certain Tiger Woods.

But Spain's Garcia, for one, is not frightened by any of these obstacles.

"Because it's humid your shirt gets stuck on your body but it's better than the cold," said Garcia, who scored his maiden U.S. PGA Tour victory last month at the Colonial tournament before finishing joint second behind Woods at the Memorial two weeks ago.

"I'm looking forward to trying to put myself into contention like I've been doing lately. I've been hitting the ball extremely well. To tell the truth I can't wait to start playing.

"I'm sure Tiger is going to be up there but you've got to play your own game and try to beat the golf course.

"I expect to keep improving a lot, getting closer to the level he's playing, so I'll be able to challenge him."

At 21, Garcia is less than half the age of 43-year-old Langer, who is arguably playing better than anyone else in his age group.

The German has not finished worse than sixth in his past four starts on the U.S. Tour, coming third at the Players Championship, joint sixth at the Masters, equal third at the WorldCom Classic and second at the St Jude Classic on Sunday.

Less than 24 hours after the St Jude Classic Langer played a full practice round on Monday in scorching afternoon heat at Southern Hills, showing that he is as dedicated and meticulous as ever.

"If I play similar to the way I played in Memphis I could be one of the contenders this week," the 1985 and 1993 Masters champion said.

Langer is, however, concerned about the ninth and 18th greens.

"They are almost unplayable," he said. "They are too sloped and too firm."

As for the others, their form may not be as sharp but they have proven their mettle in big tournaments.

Faldo, six times a major championship winner, showed glimmers of his old self in finishing third at the Volvo PGA Championship and sharing 10th place in the St Jude Classic.

Montgomerie, U.S. Open runner-up in 1994 and 1997, had his ailing back cracked by an osteopath over the weekend and could be ready for his first Tour win in more than a year.

Sweden's Parnevik, who won this year's Honda Classic, and Thomas Bjorn of Denmark, who beat Woods in a duel for the Dubai Classic title, are threats, as are Britons Westwood and Clarke, despite going winless thus far in the 2001 season.