Dubai: PGA Tour golfing veteran Mark O'Meara said he could see the rise in European golf coming, but claims the US has what it takes to fight the trend with or without Tiger Woods.
There are just four Americans in the top ten to Europe's six, this on top of the Ryder Cup win last year paints a worrying picture for the American game's fading dominance.
O'Meara said, "I certainly think it's been coming, no question about it; 20, 25 years ago the US players had tended to dominate the top ten. But you know I can see over the last 15-20 years it's certainly become more of a global game... The European Tour has been no exception to that with the success the European Team had in the Ryder Cup, the confidence of coming over and playing a lot in America."
The 54-year-old, who won the Desert Classic in 2004, and will compete in his 13th tournament here this weekend added, "Performing at such a high level [in America] has only broadened the quality of play in Europe. More European players are playing and doing well in the majors and that's why you're seeing that reflected in the world rankings."
When asked if there was a remedy to the situation O'Meara said, "I think it's going to be a motivating factor for some young American players like Billy Haas or Anthony Kim or some of the others who've come along and said, hey, we have to step up our game."
But in a bid not to write off the American games biggest driving force O'Meara said of his close friend Woods, "It's in his DNA to win golf tournaments and play and compete. I realise what's transpired in his life the last year and a half has been difficult — but I believe he's starting to try and get those things in order and hopefully he'll play well again because I think that's good for golf."
Of Woods' incentive to win back form and in turn help quell the rise of Europe O'Meara added, "He's got an opportunity to catch Jack Nicklaus. He's got four major championships to tie his record. He's not getting any younger and he knows that."
