NICK Watney last night insisted US golfers have no hang-ups about winning majors and are capable of winning the Open at Royal St George's come Sunday.
Having won twice on the US PGA Tour this year, in the WGC Cadillac Championship in March and the AT&T National earlier this month, Watney is a highly-fancied contender at Sandwich.
However, no player from across the Atlantic has, despite the emergence of several talented young players, triumphed in one of the Masters, US Open, Open or US PGA in more than a year.
That is a highly unusual situation -- the last calendar year in which an American failed to win a major title was back in 1994 -- and it has led to questions being asked of the ability, desire and mentality of those who play under the Stars and Stripes.
The 30-year-old from Sacramento certainly suggested he had a suspect temperament during the US PGA at Whistling Straits last year. Leading by three shots going into the final round, he crashed to a catastrophic round of 81 and finished in a tie for 18th place.
The world No.10, though, feels too much is being made of the failure of American players to win majors and is adamant they can end a drought which stretches back to when Phil Mickelson won the Masters last April.
“I think golf globally, and specifically in Europe, is extremely strong,” he admitted. “But I think success is cyclical. Tiger and Phil were winning for a long time. Now, other nationalities are.
“We have a lot of talented guys and we don’t like hearing people say that we are inferior. I would certainly love to put my name in the mix for a major and hopefully end the drought.
“But, at the same time, I don’t think any of the guys here are trying to win one for America. Golf is an individual game. Whoever wins will, first and foremost, be doing it for themselves.”
Watney has steadily improved in his three previous appearances in the Open. On his debut, at Carnoustie in 2007, he finished in 35th place, at Turnberry in 2009 he was 27th and last year at St Andrews he broke into the top 10 and ended up in seventh spot.
The big Californian feels his game is well suited to seaside golf and is relishing the challenge that the famous Kent course will present if, as has been forecast, high winds lash competitors.
“I have a lower ball-flight than a lot of the guys on tour so that helps when it comes to playing in the Open,” he said.
“I enjoy playing a different style of golf to what we are used to in the States.
“I love the fact you have so many options on different shots. One of the challenges is to pick the correct one. You don’t just have to get a yardage and hit it that far. There is a lot that goes into each shot. Links golf is a lot of fun.”
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