BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. To walk up the stairs to the locker room at Oakland Hills is a swift journey through history, the kind most Americans would like to forget.
Go up the first flight and there on the wall is a photograph of Colin Montgomerie, posing after another flawless swing. More large photos are at every turn, from Sergio Garcia staring down another flag to Bernhard Langer posing with a gold cup. The final photo shows a champagne-soaked celebration.
The last major competition there was the 2004 Ryder Cup, and it wasn't much competition at all.
Europe 181/2, United States 91/2.
“I got here this morning to play and there wasn't a soul out here,” David Toms said Monday. “It was a lot different from the last time I walked off this golf course.”
For eight Europeans from that winning team, there are nothing but happy memories. And that might be one reason odds are better than ever of a European winning the PGA Championship for the first time in 80 years, its longest drought in any major.
“It was one of the most memorable weeks I've ever had, certainly on that golf course,” said Ian Poulter, who won his singles match against Chris Riley in 2004.
Poulter also can take good memories from the last major, where he challenged Padraig Harrington at Royal Birkdale.
And he's not alone.
Europe has 16 players who are among the top 50 in the world ranking.
Their collective spirits never has been this high.
Harrington has led the way, becoming the first European in 92 years to win the British Open in consecutive years.
The last of eight majors at Oakland Hills was the 1996 U.S. Open, when Steve Jones won by one shot over Davis Love III and Tom Lehman, and Tiger Woods played his final U.S. Open as an amateur.
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