COLIN MONTGOMERIE yesterday declared "now is the time" for Europe's Ryder Cup heroes to win a Major - because Tiger Woods' aura of invincibility is over.
The Scot, 44, reckons any of Ian Woosnam's victorious 12-man team from the K-Club can triumph at Carnoustie as the Open returns to the scene of the last European win in 1999.
And Monty takes further encouragement from the recent Major performances of the world No.1.
For the first time in his great career, the American superstar took the lead during the final round of the Masters and US Open - but could not close out his 13th Major title.
And the Scot admitted the relative failures of the new father gave every other player "hope" as he looks to defend his Open title.
"It is possible to beat Tiger," he said. "Although he's been second in both, it's been possible to wholesale women shoes beat him.
"You certainly wouldn't have had money on Zach Johnson and Angel Cabrera winning the first two Majors.
"When Aaron Baddeley tripled the first at the US Open, Tiger was leading and you thought: 'That's that'. But it didn't happen for the first time and it's encouraging in some ways that can happen.
"In 2000, he was invincible, but now possibly not so much so and it has given us all a little bit of hope.
"But I'm glad he's coming over - it would be like Wimbledon without Roger Federer without him." In the 31 Majors since Paul Lawrie won in 1999, a total of 30 different Europeans have racked up 82 top-10 finishes.
Sergio Garcia leads the way with eight while Monty, who returned to winning ways at the Smurfit European Open on Sunday, has managed only three despite remaining unbeaten in his Ryder Cup singles matches.
"I think now is the time that we proved our Ryder Cup success in Major championship golf," said Monty, who won the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond in 1999 the week before the Open.
"We've won five of the last six Ryder Cups and yet we can't win a Major. It seems unbelievable that one of that team can't win on his own - myself included. It was the strongest European team ever to play. I think we have more players capable of it than ever before.
"The whole Ryder Cup team are capable, but some are more capable than others and if you are looking for a couple then Padraig Harrington and Paul Casey would be my picks. But I think we are all good enough to come forward and win now."
That number includes Darren Clarke, who is regaining his old confidence after finally making a cut at the Buick Open in Michigan last time out - and discovering he's been using the wrong equipment for the past three years. "It was my fault because I had not checked them, but I've been putting the wrong shafts in my irons for three years," said the world No.128.
"My driver was going up the middle of the fairways and my irons were going right and left and too high.
"I changed them and straightaway my iron play turned around. It took me two shots to realise the difference."
Latest style shoes Clarke, who lost his wife Heather to cancer last year, is now looking forward to playing again. He said: "I can't wait for these two weeks. I can't wait to play golf again. I'm almost like a rookie - I'm so keen to play."
Phil Mickels
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