OK, here is a basic fact, undeniable and uncontested. A total of 23 members of the European Tour will be competing at The Masters this week.

Eight of them could legitimately be described as British, at least in the wider sense of the British Isles as opposed to the UK. Seven more come from the mainland of Europe and eight are those who hail from various spots on the global map but who we, over here, could claim as ours, to a greater or lesser extent.

The European representation was reduced by one this week by the withdrawal of Thomas Björn because of personal family concerns, but, still, a goodly contingent of players who ply at least a modicum of their trade on this side of the Atlantic will be at Augusta National.

It seems, at first sight, to be a powerful team that will fly the stars of Europe on their campaign flags. But trying to wade through the morass of form and the lessons of history, in an effort to come up with a viable contender for the title in this four-day festival of what is best in the game, is a different job altogether.

There was a time, for instance, when Colin Montgomerie would have figured high in a list of potential winners of any of the four major championships of world golf.

It isn't that way any more. Montgomerie has become entrapped in a tortuous tussle with his game and nobody knows -- least of all, one suspects, the great Scot himself -- how he will respond this week. Just let's say that the portents are not good.

Padraig Harrington finished tied for fifth at the 2002 Masters. (Getty Images)
Neither are those of men such as Sergio Garcia, who is a prime candidate even this early in the season for the title of Most Disappointing Player of the Year. A smile is never far from the lips of a young fellow who, it is amazing to realize, is still only 23, but a calamitous series of finishes in the U.S. this year seems to indicate that the most he can hope for this time around is that he might save himself the embarrassment of missing the cut.

Garcia has played seven events on the PGA TOUR this season, has failed to beat the cut-mark three times and has a best finish of joint 25th. He is not in the sort of form that encourages optimism -- the moment such a natural talent of a club starts talking about reducing the lag and change of plane at the top of his backswing, you kind of know that he's in some sort of trouble.

Technicalities are not what Garcia is about. What he is about is a joyful exposition of a talent that was born in him when he was little more than a mite in diapers. Now he's talking about some of the more arcane elements of his swing -- it doesn't look good, frankly.

Neither are the signs propitious for Montgomerie. He has had a dreadful time in the U.S. this season as he has striven to mold his game to the demands of playing three of the world's four majors in the United States. The evidence, sad to relate though it is, suggests that Montgomerie will go into the 47th major of his career more in hope that expectation.

If recent results are an indicator, he will be merely a member of the supporting cast in this most wondrous of golf tournaments. But it is not all doom and gloom for our guys. Padraig Harrington, for one, has an outstanding opportunity to kick on from his already-elevated position in the world order and prove that he is capable of at least matching the best and, on his day, considerably more.

Harrington might be a prime candidate in the imminent drive to prevent Tiger Woods from winning the tournament three years in succession. The pathologically garrulous Dubliner might talk the talk, but increasingly frequently in the recent past he has demonstrated that he can walk the walk, too.

Darren Clarke might have a chance if he can drag from within himself the magic of which he is capable. The big Ulster man is arguably the most prodigiously talented member of the entire ranks of the European Tour -- what he has to do now is to demonstrate that ability.

It will not be easy for him, nor for the other 22. At this moment, the best that can honestly be hoped for from most European players is that they play well enough not to have to leave Georgia with a feeling of personal shame and that they have flown the multi-starred colors of the European flag proudly before them; and, finally, whether they come from the old country or not, that they have emerged intact, with brain cells working normally.

If they contrive to do that, there could yet be potential title-winning performances from any number of players from over here. Just don't hold your breath, though -- you might expire through lack of oxygen.