Europeans have been left behind

PERHAPS someone will do a television mini series and call it Modern Masters Mysteries. Part one would be what the heck has happened to the Europeans at Augusta. And part two would be how left handers have managed to produce 50 per cent of the champions over the last dozen years while comprising barely three per cent of the field. When Jose Maria Olazabal collected the second of his two green jackets in such emotional circumstances in 1999, it marked the 11th victory by a European in the 19 editions since Seve Ballesteros became the first in 1980. There has not been one since. During this millennium, the Europeans have won four US Opens, produced five Open champions, while there have been four triumphs at the US PGA Championship. They have also won six of the eight Ryder Cups staged during that time frame. But at the major where they used to enjoy the most success? There have barely been any serious contenders, let alone newcomers to the champions’ locker room. Lee Westwood was runner-up to Phil Mickelson on one occasion while the Swede Jonas Blixt finished joint second last year. That is it in terms of top two finishes. Why the dramatic shift in fortunes? As Rory McIlroy pointed out, part of the explanation has to come down to the fabulous Augusta combination of Tiger and Phil, who have won seven Masters between them. Other than that, it is a hard one to fathom. As the successes in the other majors showed, there has been no shortage of quality. While the Europeans have been shut out, the left handers have prospered like never before. When the Canadian Mike Weir won the 2003 Masters he was only the second lefty to win any major (Bob Charles, with his 1963 Open triumph, was the other) let alone the Masters. Since then, Mickelson has weighed in with three victories before giving way to Bubba Watson, who has won two of the last three, making it six victories out of the last 12. It used to be said the perfect shape shot for Augusta was a high draw but the lefties can better that since their equivalent is a high fade, and the ball always spins more and lands softer when the shot is a fade. When you are dealing with the fine margins that prevail at Augusta National, that is a considerable plus. There is also Paul McGinley’s geekish theory that the modern three-piece ball is harder to keep in the air when hit with a draw, thereby hurting the right handers at the Masters. My own theory? Two left handers with perfect games for Augusta just happened to come along at almost the same time. Both have the power and the touch that is so vital to success in these parts. But when Mickelson and Watson are past their best, do not be surprised if we go back to the Masters being dominated by those on the right.