THE Open at Hoylake, many thought, would be the week when Europe's seven-year barren spell in the majors came to an end.
But not only did Tiger Woods make it nine American winners in the past 11 years, his compatriots Chris DiMarco and Jim Furyk were second and fourth and in between them came South African Ernie Els.
Sergio Garcia's last-round struggles of earlier in the year returned to leave him tied for fifth, while Carl Pettersson, Anthony Wall, Robert Rock and Mikko Ilonen were the only other Europeans in the top 20.
Of that quintet, Garcia is the only one on course to be part of the bid to retain the Ryder Cup in September.
Colin Montgomerie, Padraig Harrington, David Howell and Paul McGinley all missed the halfway cut, Paul Casey finished last of those who did play all four rounds and Luke Donald, Henrik Stenson, Jose Maria Olazabal and Paul Broadhurst failed to get into contention.
