General / Editor / 24 June 2007 /

Bernhard Langer remains puzzled as to why none of his Ryder Cup heroes have gone on to win one of the Majors.

The German, who won the Masters in 1985 and 1993, led the Europeans to a record nine-point success over the Americans in Detroit in 2004.

There was not a single Major winner in the team but Langer was confident that one of his stars would go on to lift one of the game's elite titles.

Despite a subsequent hammering of the Americans at the K Club last year, the Europeans have still to end the barren run in the Majors. The last success came in 1999 when Paul Lawrie won the Open at Carnoustie - the venue for the same competition this time around, starting on July 19.

Langer believes that Europe definitely has the talent to emulate Lawrie, but cannot explain why no-one from this side of the Atlantic has as yet ended the drought.

"I think we have the talent and I don't know the reasons why it hasn't happened yet for them.

"Majors define your career and eventually you have to cope with the pressures - that's what separates the great from the good.

"Small things make a big difference and you constantly have to analyse how you are performing. But I'm surprised nobody has come through yet because look how well they have played in the Ryder Cup."

Padraig Harrington had been in contention at the US Masters on the final day in April but could not sustain his challenge and ended tied seventh. He has seven top-ten finishes in Majors since 1999 and currently heads the European challenge at 28 in Betfair's Open Championship winner market.

Justin Rose had been just one behind with two to play at Augusta, only to double-bogey the 17th to finish fifth, while he shared third place with Paul Casey after three rounds at the US Open only for the pair to finish tied tenth.

Rose is on offer at 32 to win at Carnoustie, while Casey can be backed at 36. Luke Donald is priced at 38, ahead of Sergio Garcia, who has 12 top-ten finishes since Paul Lawrie's success, and Henrik Stenson, who are both available at 44.

Unsurprisingly, Tiger Woods, chasing a hat-trick of titles and fourth overall, dominates the market at 3.95, with Phil Mickelson next best at 18 and Ernie Els at 19.5.

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