Montgomerie believes European golf is only going to get stronger
Published:Colin Montgomerie believes European golfers are set to become the leading forces in world golf after a tremendous season for the European Tour.
Currently, five Europeans are nestled in the world’s top ten, with the opportunity for Martin Kaymer or Lee Westwood to oust Tiger Woods from the top of the standings by the end of the month.
A Ryder Cup victory, plus major championship wins for Kaymer and Graeme McDowell would suggest that Colin Montgomerie is right when he says that the Europeans are emerging as the best golfing nation on the planet.
“We have had a fantastic year in Europe, said Montgomerie.
“There is a dominance and there is a changing of the guard over to Europe.”
Since 1990, European have won only 13 of the 84 major titles on offer, and 46 of those remaining have been won by an American.
But since Padraig Harrington broke the eight-year European drought when winning the 2007 Open, the Europeans have won five, and the Americans have won five, of the 16 major championships on offer.
And Kaymer and McDowell’s successes this year suggest we could see a few more European major champions next year.
Ryder Cup team members Ross Fisher and Miguel Angel Jimenez are in action in Portugal this week and head the Portugal Masters betting market at 12/1 and 16/1.
They will both hope to continue the strong European showing with a win and a win for Jimenez would put him second in the Race to Dubai – Kaymer is currently 1/40 to win the Race to Dubai.
The next Ryder Cup takes place in Medinah Country Club, Chicago, and it’s a testament to the strength of the European Tour that Europe are 1/1 to go to American and retain the Ryder Cup.
Ryder Cuptain vice captain Thomas Bjorn is 66/1 to win in Portugal. See the full 2010 Portugal Masters betting odds market here.
