British Open: Ironically, given he will be next year's Ryder Cup captain, Nick Faldo - never one to run with the crowd - is of the opinion the current breed of European professionals, who have found it singularly difficult to acquire major titles, have it too easy on tour and, rather than sharpening their competitive edges in determined isolation, are far too "chummy" with each other. It's not his way.
Faldo, a six-time major champion, is nowadays more likely to be found in a television booth as a commentator than on a course as a player. But he is playing in this week's British Open at Carnoustie, the scene of the last European victory in a major when Paul Lawrie triumphed in 1999.
And, yesterday, Faldo was critical of the efforts of the new European generation to carry on the baton handed to them by those of his era, which provided several major champions.
"It's very different from our era to this era. We were competitors and we were very separate individuals. I always believed you kept your cards close to your chest," said Faldo, who, as a kid heard the darts player Eric Bristow give such advice.
It was a counsel he made his own throughout his career.
"Now, the modern guys all have lunch together and then go off to play for a million dollars. And I think, 'Hmmm, I can't imagine sitting down with Seve (Ballesteros) or (Greg) Norman or Pricey (Nick Price) before we go out.' It seems very different now."
He added, "It's quite interesting - they all seem to be so much more chummy.
"Tiger (Woods) would be the one exception. He won't give away any secrets . . . he's a fierce competitor and I think that is the difference."
In lamenting the failure of the current generation of Europeans in major championships, Faldo observed, "We weren't 'the lads'. We were all individuals. Now it seems like they are the lads.
"Well, we were never part of the guys. Me, Seve, (Bernhard) Langer, (Sandy) Lyle, Woosie (Ian Woosnam) - and Ollie (Jose Maria Olazabal) stepped into that group as well - look what we achieved. Need I say more? There's 18 majors between six guys. That's 18 to zero.
"My feeling is we had to win to create a future. These guys now have a future in a year. You can be a millionaire in a year on tour . . . count our wins up between the six of us. It's 100 and more wins; and the guys all get excited now with 20 wins between the lot of them.
"Now you just have to get out there and be a very good golfer and you've got one hell of a pension fund. We had to win to create pension funds, but now you just make cuts on the tour and you have a pension."
Faldo, a winner of the British Open in 1987, 1990 and 1992, is of the opinion players mush serve an apprenticeship by competing and contending in majors before actually winning one. He cites himself as an example.
"I had a good chance in '78 and again in '83. From 1978, I really believed I could win an Open.
"Then I won in '87, and that's nine years later. I went through swing changes, did everything to make it happen . . . someone very special like Tiger can win in his early 20s; the rest of us have to (get) experience.
"You have to lead an Open, not just play and lead but you've got to go away with the lead, to go through the whole thing of media and play at 3.15 at the weekend.
"A lot of mental strength is required. Tiger's proved he has got that mental strength. He's the ultimate.
"They've got to get into his zone, his world, more often. That's really it. They've got to get in there so that they feel comfortable, because Tiger is in it every day and especially at the weekend.
"I marvel at Tiger, that he has the mental strength to do this because he is the only person who has the mental strength to win the grand slam in the one year."
So, who is the European Faldo believes is best equipped to turn things around and perhaps end that drought?
"Justin Rose is the one who has started to feel the heat more. The Masters a couple of years ago, and again this year. The US Open. He is playing very solid, and he has got every chance."
Perhaps Faldo's not-so-gentle urgings will provide the impetus for the new generation to kick on and not only contend but also win a major. But then, perhaps not.
Carnoustie: Key tee-times
First (and second) rounds, to be played Thursday (and Friday). British unless stated, Irish in bold, (x) denotes amateurs.
06.41 (11.52):K Stadler (US), G Storm, D Higgins
07.58 (1309):M Campbell (Nzl), D Clarke, C DiMarco (US)
08.09 (13.20):R Goosen (Rsa), T Bjorn (Den), J Leonard (US)
09.09 (14.20):T Woods (US), P Lawrie, J Rose
09.20 (14.31):I Poulter, S Verplank (US), M Weir (Can)
10.04 (15.15): Paul McGinley, JJ Henry (US), J Senden (Aus)
10.59 (16.10):M Eliasson (Swe), Justin Kehoe, D Gleeson (Aus)
12.36 (07.25):R Karlsson (Swe), E Els (Rsa), L Glover (US)
12.58 (07.47):L Donald, C 'Howell (US), (x) L Matthews
13.09 (07.58):A Cabrera (Arg), R Sabbatini (US), S O'Hair (US)
13.20 (08.09): Padraig Harrington,(x) R Ramsay, D Toms (US)
13.31 (08.20):J Furyk (US), N Fasth (Swe), N Dougherty
13.42 (08.31):(x) Rory McIlroy, MA Jimenez (Spa), H Stenson (Swe)
13.53 (08.42):V Singh (Fij), A Oberholser (US), B Davis
14.20 (09.09):P Mickelson (US), T Taniguchi (Jpn), Lee Westwood
14.31 (09.20): Graeme McDowell,Z Johnson (US),JM Olazabal (Spa)
14.42 (09.31):S Garcia (Spa), C Campbell (US), J Edfors (Swe)
15.04 (09.53):M O'Meara (US), L Roberts (US), T Jacklin
