Open hurt looks set to continue at Birkdale this week

It amounts to 16 years of hurt. The last Englishman to win the Open was Nick Faldo in 1992. The omens for a repeat at Royal Birkdale this week lie in uncertain hands.

The English were sent homewards to think again yesterday from the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond after early promise faded into bitter disappointment.

The most visible horror story was a Simon Khan production. He went from leading the tournament to scrambling for the last exemption place for Birkdale in a matter of holes. His back nine included one 6 and three 5s. There were, of course, those who flew the flag of St George with some distinction. Robert Dinwoodie (eight under), Oliver Fisher (six under) and Anthony Wall (five under) will all be pleased with their week's work. But they will not lead the bookmakers' lists for the Claret Jug chase.

The Englishmen most likely to emulate Faldo are either hurt, resting or out of form. Luke Donald falls into the first category with his wrist injury. Justin Rose is in the second as he prepares to go better than his last appearance at Birkdale when he finished fourth in the Open.

Three of the main standard bearers were severely wounded at Loch Lomond. David Howell is a fine golfer but his back and shoulder problems have led to a period of under-achievement. His two under for the tournament is a deep disappointment for a golfer who believes he can compete at the top level.

But the two biggest English hopes have been the Ryder Cup duo of Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood. Their form deserted them yesterday. Westwood, whose slim-line figure attests to a dedicated fitness regime, had a miserable day. He had two 6s on the front nine. The second was the result of a three-putt from inside three feet on the ninth. He added two further bogeys on the back nine for 73, finishing among the also-rans at five under par. His ball-striking seemed decent, his short game flawed.

This amateur verdict could not be put to the accused. Westwood signed some autographs, gamely forced a smile for a photograph with some youngsters and shot off in a motorised cart. It was believed he was heading off to practise.

That would be no surprise. Westwood's best finish in the Open was fourth in 2004 at Troon. At 35, he has outgrown the tag of very promising contender. It is seven years since he topped Europe's order of merit. By then he had won 25 tournaments. He has won four since. In the brutally tough world of top-level golf, he may be running out of time.

Royal Birkdale still presents an opportunity for a player of his talent but Westwood has to be at his best. The repair work over the next few days will be frantic. Westwood needs it to be perfect. He was joined yesterday in the vale of misery by fellow countryman Ian Poulter. He was in the pink yesterday but only as far as his shirt and tartan trews. Poulter is, worringly, becoming more notorious for his dress sense and outbursts than for his golf.

His pink checks may have given credence to the theory that the Gay Gordon is a tartan rather than a dance. But the belief that Poulter is a major winner in waiting, expounded regularly by the player himself, has received a series of severe dunts.

Poulter always seeks to talk himself up. This is a valuable tool for a golfer to have in his locker. He seems to be buoyed by his confidence at times. He is also regularly drowned under the wash from it. His comments to Golf World about how when he plays to his potential "it will be just me and Tiger" came back to hurt him.

He was humiliated by what he believed was the misinterpretation of his comments. His positive attitude should be encouraged but it must be pointed out that Poulter's last Tour victory was the Madrid Open in 2006. This is missing from Tiger's cv. The world No.1 is not believed to be losing sleep over it.

Poulter, in contrast, has a craving to win a major. However, Poulter's talk has to be matched with actions. He can drive with power and his irons can arrow unerringly into the heart of the green. They can also spear into the sand. He found the stuff twice on the fifth.

His mood there was not helped by a short game that was proving spectacularly fallible. He grounded his wedge so hard at the fifth that one expected it to issue a complaint of assault. After four bogeys in the first nine holes, he managed to par his way in for a 74 to finish four under, nine shots off the winner, Graeme McDowell.

His mood, though, was dark in the Loch Lomond sunshine. His journey from recorders' hut to motorised buggy was interrupted by autograph hunters. He was brief with the press.

"Can we have a word, Ian?" "What for?," he replied.

"To ask about your game ahead of Birkdale," we said.

"Let's go," Poulter ordered the driver. "Sorry," he added.

It is not just the 16 years of hurt that can be a pain.