At this time a year ago, European tour veterans were bemoaning
the dearth of new talent on their circuit, especially when
compared with the number of young players making a mark on the
U.S. Tour. The old hands are no longer concerned. Not only did
the kids from the Continent play a key role in Europe's Ryder
Cup victory—Thomas Bjorn (age 26), Darren Clarke (29), Ignacio
Garrido (25) and Lee Westwood (24) accounted for six of 14 1/2
European points—but they also won several tournaments and
climbed in the World Ranking. Westwood has come the furthest,
winning three times, including a victory over Greg Norman at the
Australian Open in November, and rising to 21st from 64th at
this time last year.
Additionally, a group of fresh-faced Europeans who didn't make
the Ryder Cup team also improved. During the week of the match
in Valderrama, 26-year-old Gabriel Hjertstedt became the first
Swede to win a PGA Tour event, the B.C. Open in Endicott, N.Y.
Also, Ireland's Padraig Harrington (age 26) teamed with Paul
McGinley (31) to win the World Cup in Kiawah Island, S.C., in
November. Before the year was out, Westwood's soon-to-be
brother-in-law, Andrew Coltart, a 27-year-old Scot, won the
Australian PGA.
No one at last week's European tour opener in Thailand was
surprised to see Coltart, Westwood and Germany's Alexander Cejka
(age 27) tie for fourth and Harrington tie for eighth. "The
standard of European golf rose considerably last year, thanks
mainly to our young players," says Colin Montgomerie. "They've
proven they can compete on the world stage."
Issue date: February 2, 1998
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