It rained buckets, the wind blew at 40 mph and a thick fog even rolled over the Old Course at one point last week. But those conditions are hardly surprising during the summer at St. Andrews. The performance of South African Louis Oosthuizen clearly was, however. CBSSports.com writers Steve Elling and Ross Devonport go backwards and forwards on the British Open winner and other elements as the season’s third major is put to bed.

Is there any credence to Englishman Ian Poulter’s statement last week that the window of opportunity at major championships for top American players is closing, while prospects for the U.K. contingent look better than ever?

ELLING: In theory, absolutely. In practical terms, it was proven true to at least some degree last week. Poulter reasons that since top American players like Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk and Phil Mickelson are all 40, and the majority of players in the U.K. contingent are just hitting their prime, the time is now for the Brits to hit the gas. With players like Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Luke Donald and Justin Rose approaching their early-to-mid 30s, it’s hard to find fault with the notion. Last week’s American debacle on the scoreboard seemed to underscore his point. The low Yanks were 10 shots back. Europeans had five of the top six final slots. It’s a small sample size, but it’s rare for top players to get better in their 40s, Vijay Singh notwithstanding. Poulter reckons that the U.K. contingent should pile up a major win per year for the next few seasons or so. He might be flashy, but he is hardly crazy. Biology is biology and time never retreats.

DEVONPORT: As the old saying goes, everything is cyclical, and I think this little surge my fellow Brits are having at the moment is similar to that spell when Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam were pretty consistent major contenders in the late 80s/early-90s. Yes, the top U.S. golfers might be getting a little long in the tooth, but younger guys like Anthony Kim, Sean OHair and Dustin Johnson are just one major title away from leaping into the top 10 or maybe even the top five, so it will only be a matter of time before they bring the Stars and Stripes back to prominence. However, after Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Paul Casey, Luke Donald and Justin Rose, the ranks of elite English golfers thins out pretty quickly with Ross Fisher, Oliver Wilson and Brian Davis next on the list. Of course, the United States has six times as many people within its borders than England, so we just have to take what we can get when it comes to international sporting success over the Yanks, and were certainly enjoying how things are going on the golf course right now.

Two-thirds of the way through the season, Tiger Woods hasn’t threatened to win a single tournament. Will it ever be the same?

ELLING: After switching golf balls in his previous start, another red flare was fired last week when Woods benched a putter he used to win 13 of 14 majors and roughly $100 million in global earnings. He seems to be looking for answers and none are forthcoming. He putted like a lower-tier tour player last week, not the world No. 1, a continuation of his form of the entire season. With no swing coach, Woods somehow looked somewhat better from tee to green, but what happens if he elects to add a new teaching guru later this year? Does that mean another lengthy transition and spotty performances for a year, like with Hank Haney? He turns 35 in December. The meter is running. Whats worrisome is that putting is such a psychological exercise. Frankly, over the past two seasons, it seems to be getting worse for Woods on the greens, not better. Anybody got Dave Stockton’s number?

DEVONPORT: Golfers like myself out there know that the course is where you go to get away from the pressures of life, so I just have a feeling that Woods’ struggles this season are more down to his general stubbornness than his off-the-course issues. But while he just seems lost at the moment, I think he’ll turn it around eventually. There’s no way he can just continue to make ball and club tweaks here and there and expect that to get his game back on track, and I can see someone eventually finding their way into Woods’ circle of trust and helping him right the universe once more. Golf just hasn’t been the same since Tiger started to struggle, and while watching Louis O. take it home on Sunday was memorable, how great would it have been to have Woods five back heading into the final round rather than Casey? Yes, he might be 35, but Tiger still has plenty to learn.

Where did Louis Oosthuizen’s command performance rate relative to recent majors and what can we expect from him?

ELLING: The crystal ball portion about his future is anybody’s guess, but he certainly proved that he’s long enough and cool enough to handle tough courses and extreme pressure. Sure, he was winning in a runaway for most of Sunday, but the kid was smiling and laughing his way around for four days, impervious to the rigors of the British Open demands and charming everybody in his wake. His golf swing is fluid and generates tons of power. For a relatively small country, South Africa keeps cranking out players, with Oosthuizen and junior-golf pal Charl Schwartzel standing next in line. Trevor Immelman, who won the 2008 Masters and has been battling a hand injury, is hardly out of the mix, either. Hard as it sounds to believe, Oosthuizen showed more upside than either of those two more well-know countrymen, who are also in his same general age bracket. It was the most one-sided butt-kicking since Tiger shellacked the field at the British Open by eight shots a decade ago, en route to a wraparound Grand Slam. Oosthuizen, 27, showed not a single weakness over four days on the Old Course. It was akin to euthanasia: He put the field, and more than a few viewers, to sleep. He was that dominant. I hope people actually watched and weren’t put off by the lopsidedness or the fact that the Americans were hopelessly out of contention. He put on a show.

DEVONPORT: I admit, Steve, I turned my TV off after Casey’s triple and Oosty’s birdie at the 12th, but I obviously had a slight rooting interest in that matter. However, I did turn it back on for the last couple of holes because there’s nothing quite like that walk up 18 at the Open Championship, no matter how many shots you are ahead. While you’re supposed to putt for dough, Oosthuizen proved at St. Andrews that you can also drive for it as well. I just hope he doesn’t vanish into mediocrity like past upset winners Todd Hamilton and Paul Lawrie, but as you say, the son of a farmer did have some buzz around him a few years ago when he initially joined the European Tour, so I think he might be able to stick around the spotlight for a while like his buddy, Ernie Els, who won his second major title at the age of 27. Anyone who can hold onto a lead of any kind f deserves a ton of respect, and he just seems to be a genuinely nice guy to boot. Here’s hoping Shrek can build on this victory and join the Big Easy as one of the game’s great talents for years to come.

Besides the beautiful views, both human and equine, and the great classic racing, Saratoga Race Course offers handicappers a number of difficult things to examine on a day-to-day basis.

For the 142nd time, Saratoga will swing its doors open this Friday and the Grade 3 Schuylerville for juveniles will kick off the stakes action. The highlight of the first weekend is the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks.

Mother Nature will come into play at this meet for sure and we all know the weather will come. It can ruin a grass schedule quicker than you can say flash thunderstorm and just like on the dirt track, all turf courses can play different when they get some moisture seeping in.

Saratoga has been called the Spa, and the Graveyard of Favorites, and you better pay strict attention to last moniker before eating chalk this meeting.

A good handicapper must also try to identify key races before they become super obvious. One of the tools to help with that task is the Beyer Pars that are published in DRF Simulcast Weekly. Starting from a $15,000 claimer, then going to the N5X level, the Beyer pars are listed. Generally speaking a $75,000 claimer would be on target if that runner posts a 95 Beyer figure. If you witness a race where the winner for that level records something in the 101 or 102 range, you may be on to a key race far ahead of the crowd.

Just like at most other venues, speed is extremely potent going short on dirt and you can go wire-to-wire going long on dirt under the right circumstance.

On the grass, it can pretty much be pick a number at the top of the lane. The fields will be competitive, with comebackers, Europeans, and shippers mixed in with those coming up from Belmont.

One thing to pay attention to is the main track only runners. They will be designated in the Racing Form as such and will be in the outside slots generally. If the rains come, and grass races are taken off the sod, these horses are prime time contenders. First off the race will be losing quite a bit of luster as the top bred grass runners are gone and the fields will be in all likelihood short and sweet and compact.

Even with all the regally bred runners that have been positioned to debut at Saratoga, the experienced runners could offer the best value. They have a race or two under the belt and are more accustomed to what could shake them up at race day.

Don’t be scared to take shots with comebackers at this meet. All the pretty people have likely instructed-their well-paid conditioners to save some live runners for this meet. Nothing can be finer than to take a nice little contingent down to the winner’s circle before dinner and drinks at some fancy restaurant.

As far as the humans are concerned, the usual suspect as in trainers will dominate. These of course are the Bill Motts, the Todd Pletchers, the Steve Asmussens and the Barclay Taggs of the world.

Last year was kind of a freaky deal as Linda Rice won with just about everything she saddled. She was the leading trainer over Pletcher by one race despite saddling 60 fewer horses.

Barring the strange fickle finger of fate, Ramon Dominguez will retain his Saratoga title.

After a week along the Scottish seashore, absorbing all that Mother Nature has to offer and tracking her impact on the worlds oldest major championship, CBSSports.com senior writer Steve Elling is wringing out his clothes and his notebook and adding up the aftermath. Cheers.

Up

Then Champagne Louis, it is The last time a player claimed his first major championship at St. Andrews was in 1964, when American Tony Lema won and delivered champagne to the press room, reinforcing a nickname that stuck with him until his untimely demise. When Louis Oosthuizen delivered bottles of bubbly to the same motley crew about an hour after his win Sunday at the Old Course, it actually drew a cheer from the scribes, who are notoriously hard to impress. The fact the huzzah was, by far, the highlight of a coma-inducing day was also due to Oosthuizen, who applied a tourniquet to the tournament drama at the turn Sunday and kept right on twisting until numbness set in. In other words, the unassuming son of a South African dairy farmer did his job and milked the tournament dry of any drama. Just like he was supposed to do. With a 54-hole lead, he played more like Tiger Woods than Tiger Woods has lately, except he smiled as he slit everybodys throat. Champagne Louis? “I rather like the sound of that,” an R&A official admitted Sunday night as he poured the bubbly for the assembled hacks.

Raining on their reign It was a terrific idea, but the biggest pity of the week came when fans braved the awful rains Wednesday to watch past Open champions like Lee Trevino, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player tee it up alongside younger winners like Woods, John Daly and Nick Faldo. Rain took care of that, washing out the Champions Challenge and canceling might be the coolest idea in golf. It was set to be a four-hole exhibition, and the players flew long distances to play. “Some of the old guys were really looking forward to it,” said Tom Weiskopf, a past winner. So were some of the fans, who forked over 40 pounds for naught. If its possible, they should reprise this idea, and perhaps before the Open comes back to St. Andrews, presumably in another five years, though the rota hasnt been set that far in advance. Because, after all, guys like de Vicenzo, Player, Trevino and Palmer arent getting any younger, and neither are we fans.

Poulters peers proving his point It was an eyebrow-raiser to start the week, to be sure. World No. 10 Ian Poulter, one of the most outspoken and flamboyant players in the world, told a Scottish newspaper that the window for American dominance at the majors was closing because of the ages of the prime-time players like Mickelson, Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker, all 40 or beyond. While Poulter personally flopped last week, the crux of his prediction didnt. The European contingent was splashed all over the leaderboard, with eight players in the final top 13, including a handful of certain Ryder Cup players. The low Yanks were youngsters Sean OHair and Nick Watney, who finished 10 shots back. Everybody knows that todays alarming trend often proves to be tomorrows punch line, but at the moment, England alone has a 5-4 edge over the U.S. in terms of players positioned in the world top 18.

Saluting Seve He is the European Arnie, a description that is used often because its damned correct. Seve Ballesteros couldnt attend last weeks Champions Challenge because he is still suffering the effects of brain cancer and resultant surgery, but plenty of players were thinking about him last week. “I just wish Seve was here,” said Phil Mickelson, whose slash-and-dash style on the course has closely resembled the dashing Spaniards mode of play over the years. The prognosis remains largely unknown, but Ballesteros made more than a few fans choke up with the closing comment in a newspaper article printed last week. “You know, for everything in life, there is always a beginning and there is always an end,” he said. “This is the tough part, the most difficult thing, when you see that its coming: the end.”

Amateur hour British Amateur champion Jin Jeong, 20, cemented his silver medal as the British Opens low amateur by being the lone non-professional to make the cut. Apparently still unfulfilled, then he briefly contended for the bigger title as well. Jeong, a South Korean who moved to Australia four years ago to hone his game, was on the leaderboard well into the weekend rounds before finishing T14, which was better than Woods, including K.J. Choi and Y.E. Yang. Amazingly, Jeong, who plans to turn pro next year after playing in the Masters, didnt play his first links golf until three weeks before winning the British Amateur in June. After 36 holes, only Oosthuizen and Mark Calcavecchia were ahead of him. , kid, which is “congratulations” in his native tongue, or , which is the same notion in Oz-speak.

Shrek, the golf sequel Because the sun rises at 4:30 a.m. and sets at 10:30 p.m. at the British Open, there is plenty of time for diversions, if not outright opportunities for daydreaming. When Oosthuizen cruised to the 54-hole lead on Saturday, and the media had good-natured fun with his nickname, Shrek, heres the list of players wed pick to play roles as the cast in another sequel if the movie used actual folks attending the tournament. Oosthuizen as the loveable lead ogre, Tim Finchem as Lord Farquad, Alejandro Canizares (in the Antonio Banderas role) as the cat, Mark Calcavecchia as the wiseacre donkey and Colin Montgomerie as Princess Fiona.

Down

Road kill redux After all of the harrumphing and hand-wringing, its interesting to note how the controversial new tee box on the most famous hole in golf affected play over four rounds. Amid some consternation from the games purists, who were rightly alarmed that the Road Hole was being changed for the first time in 110 years, the R&A added 50 yards. Heres the data dug from the dirt: The 17th averaged 4.79 in 1984 and 4.71 in 2000. Five years ago, it surrendered 4.63 strokes. Last week, the Road Hole averaged 4.67 shots to rank as the toughest hole on the course. Fifty yards meant a difference of .04 shots, and for that, sacred ground was defiled? The hole produced a course-high 174 bogeys (next-most was 137), course-high 68 double-bogeys (next was 20) and a course-low 16 birdies for the week (next lowest was 24). The unanswerable question is what the hole would have averaged from the old tee, so maybe it was worth the public-relations disaster the decision precipitated for the host R&A, even at a paltry .04. Officials wanted to see players hacking balls off the road, and two of the more memorable shots of the entire week were the ricochet ball off the 17ths rock wall by Miguel Angel Jimenez and the travails of Germanys Martin Kaymer in the gravel Sunday. Still, tweaking a hole for the first time in over a century, at a shrine like St. Andrews, it just doesnt feel right.

All the putter mutter To many, it was yet another red flare fired across the bow of the USS Tiger Woods. He was changing his putter, his trusty and irreplaceable “gamer,” for the first time since 1999. Hed won 13 majors, around $100 million worldwide with that wand, but he swapped it out for a Nike model last week, though not a single pro had ever heard of anybody changing putters because of slow greens, the reason Woods cited behind the move. Some thought it was a stunt to invigorate Nike sales, since they stuck with him during the nadir of his scandal. Well, he used 99 putts over the first three days, ditched the Nike and switched back to the original putter in the final round. Woods hasnt putted well in months, and its been unusually spotty for the past two seasons, if not longer. Forget the psychological baggage hes if he cant get his short stroke figured out, or if it continues to deteriorate, the Swoosh switch at the Old Course will be viewed as a seminal moment in his career.

The 1-2 punch Lets hear from you: Which player was more disappointing last week, Phil Mickelson or Woods? Lefty was more upbeat at the British Open than he had been in years, then he let bad weather in his draw totally ruin his week, an unforgivable psychological setback for a player of his experience. He also booted yet another chance of reaching world No. 1 for the first time, a feat he could have accomplished by finishing third or better. It has been a long time since I can recall Mickelson muttering to himself more often than he did last week, clearly affected by the winds, rain and his poor play. It was just another in a series of bad weeks abroad at the British for Lefty; he started the week as the co-second favorite with Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy, who certainly played to their capabilities. In fact, Westwood, at No. 3 in the world after finishing second at two majors this year, seems destined to reach No. 1 before Phil.

Wheres the love, not to mention the fans? No question, St. Andrews has an aura and atmosphere like no other major-championship venue in the sport. But it was downright sad that Tom Watsons likely farewell at the Old Course came with barely anybody watching. Because of the economy and a weird confluence of weather, Watson was in the final group off the course to finish Friday night as play was suspended because of darkness. Woods had finished moments earlier, yet there were perhaps 1,000 fans on the 18th to welcome Watson as he missed the cut and finished off the 18th hole, likely for the last time, since the Old Course hasnt been placed on the upcoming rota schedule and Watson is already 60. Attendance on the first two days seemed sparse and the R&A crowd estimates felt ridiculously inflated. It picked up on the weekend to be sure, but Watson, a five-time British Open winner, deserved a better so-long salute. Especially after nearly winning the event last year.

Demystifying John Daly He showed up for a prom dance in a clown suit. Some would say that analogy fits John Daly, the ultimate square peg in golfs round hole. In case you missed it, a group photo was staged Tuesday night featuring all the past British winners who had consented to play in the Champions Challenge exhibition the following day. As some of the greatest players ever to walk the Auld Sod lined up on at the R&A clubhouse for the shot, Daly stood out like a range ball in a box of Titleists. He wore a Loudmouth sport coat, made by the same folks who supply his garish pants, drawing embarrassed laughs from his peers. Look, the guy is starving for endorsement money, but after some of the fretful decisions he has made in his career, he doesnt need to dress like a clown at a buttoned-down affair, too. Standing next to conservatively dressed Woods and Padraig Harrington in the photo, it looked the gardener had sneaked into the shot, ridiculous smock and all.

The clipped accent and animated tone on the other end of the phone was immediately recognizable.

Especially if you are a native South African.

Louis Oosthuizen completes the biggest margin of victory in the Open since Tiger Woods in 2000. (AP) Particularly if you know anything about golf in that nation.

Louis Oosthuizens phone rang before the final round of the British Open on Sunday morning, and the man on the other end of the line didnt need to identify himself. His voice, especially to a fellow native son, is unmistakable.

Gary Player, one of five men to have won the career Grand Slam and the most successful international player of all time, called the 27-year-old before he ventured onto the Old Course in what was unquestionably the biggest exam of his life.

“Have a good day, be patient, the crowd will be against you,” Player advised, according to Oosthuizens agent. “But dont worry, they were always against me, so use it as your motivation.” In retrospect, Players semi-paranoid pep talk was entirely unnecessary, because if all of the United Kingdom had conspired to pull against the easygoing South African, if not tackle him like it was a bruising rugby match, it wouldnt have mattered.

“He is a cool customer,” Charl Schwartzel said.

Oosthuizen iced English playing partner Paul Casey and everybody else at St. Andrews, proving unflappable in high winds and impervious to whatever else Mother Nature and the games ancient ghosts threw at him, winning by a commanding seven shots and shaking off every challenge with a smirk or a laugh.

Saturday morning, after sleeping on the 36-hole lead, Oosthuizen called over his friend Schwartzel, a pal from their junior-golf days in South Africa, shortly before Louis teed off in the final group of the day. He had some comedy video clips he was watching.

“He was showing me things on his iPhone,” said Schwartzel, who waited three hours to congratulate his buddy behind the 18th green. “He was laughing, and it was an hour before he teed off. Hes so relaxed.”

It didnt change much Sunday, when some might have expected his day to turn into a horror flick. Despite having made the cut at just one of his previous eight major championships, Oosthuizen gave the Old Course some gray hairs and turned a lengthy St. Andrews trend on its ear. The last player to win his first major at St. Andrews was the late Tony Lema in 1964, and the site has hosted seven British Opens since.

Instead of folding, he joined solid-gold St. Andrews winners like Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros. Do they blow vuvuzelas at golf tournaments? After this week, maybe they should, because it was a blowout all the way around.

He came within one of matching history. Woods won at St. Andrews by eight shots, a modern-era British Open record, during his stellar stretch of four consecutive major-championship wins in 2000. Oosthuizen flirted with that mark all day before he bogeyed the 17th.

Player, who was in St. Andrews all week, explained Sunday that his speech to Oosthuizen was based on his experiences at the 1961 Masters, when he battled Arnold Palmer and was a huge underdog.

“He was Americas hero and there were 15,000 people there, and one person, my wife, and my dog, pulling for me,” Player cracked.

By midday, the only thing left for anybody in the gallery was to root for the runners-up. American Jeff Overton, who this week finished T11 in his first trip to St. Andrews, played with the largely unknown Oosthuizen both Thursday and Friday. Somewhat comically, earlier in the week, when I asked Overton who hed been paired with, he drew a complete blank on the South Africans name.

Join the club. Seven days later, hes completely sold on the guys talent.

“Oh, yeah, he played great, hes a first-class guy, the whole deal,” Overton gushed. “He hits it straight, he hits it long, and he hit some good shots around the greens, some of those cutesy little wedges and chips you need to score around here.

“Really, hats off to the guy. It was awesome.”

Oosthuizen, a product of the South African Tour, had one victory on a major circuit in his career, and it came earlier this year at the Andalucian Open, a middle-tier event on the European Tour. This week, he played a lot like the thr Bobby Locke, Gary Player and Ernie Els. Oosthuizen was a benefactor of Els junior golf program growing up, just like Schwartzel, the least gobsmacked player at what transpired this week.

“I am definitely not surprised, definitely not surprised,” said Schwartzel, who was a groomsman in Oosthuizens wedding. “He has always been capable of shooting low scores. Hes the type of guy when he gets going, he gets so much confidence.

“He is not a really jittery guy. He is a quite calm, you need to be calm when you are at a championship like this.”

He never even blinked at the complete annihilation of his name, either, which might be the most butchered surname in major-championship history. When asked, he articulated the correct pronunciation this week as West-hi-zin, but everybody seemed determined to mangle it as they saw fit, be it the BBC, ESPN or myriad other outlets broadcasting the worlds oldest major.

Can a guy become a household name when nobody can pronounce it? We might get to find out, based on the performance he put on this week, making the wind-blown Old Course seem like a pasture. Given that his parents are humble dairy farmer in South Africa, that analogy is certainly apt.

Countryman Trevor Immelman said Friday night that he was surprised only that it had taken so long for Oosthuizen to insert himself into the mix at a big event. Sunday, he was asked to expound on that sentiment.

“Well, hes that good,” shrugged Immelman, the 2008 Masters winner. “Because hes got all the shots. So it was really just a matter of time.”

He was proven dead right Sunday, because no matter what Casey threw at Oosthuizen, he dodged and countered. Sailing along with nary a worry, he made his first bogey in a 24-hole stretch after missing the eighth green, trimming the lead over Casey to three. Casey then bashed his tee ball on the short, par-4 ninth onto the green, but Oosthuizen didnt waver.

He walloped his drive onto the green, too. After Casey lagged to about seven feet for birdie, Oosthuizen slammed home a 40-footer, the biggest shot of the week, to reclaim a four-shot lead with nine to play. Casey triple-bogeyed the 12th and it was all over but the arithmetic and coronation march down the final hole.

The day marked the 92nd birthday of a South African icon, and last November, Sunday was declared the International Day of Nelson Mandela by the United Nations decree. The happy kid who answers to the nickname Shrek stole some thunder from the countrys legendary statesman.

He added his name to a list of heavyweights in his sport, too. This month, ran a story about the next great South African player: Schwartzel. Oosthuizen got there first.

“It has always been Ernie and Retief [Goosen] as of late,” Schwartzel said. “Its like a new generation coming and thats what we need to show, there are new youngsters coming through capable of winning big events and taking over … to find foot leverage.”

It became a boot in the Old Courses backside.

On the windy seaside links at historic St. Andrews, the army of Americans came ashore full of confidence, strong in numbers and, given their history hereabouts, fairly assured about the outcome.

Then they red, white and blew it.

Going a long way toward validating the opinions of a particularly vocal European star and one of his wisecracking countrymen, the Sons of Uncle Sam cried uncle on Saturday at the British Open, when it became clear that the Yanks wont be around when the claret jug is handed to the winner on Sunday night.

Theres nothing pretty about what Phil Mickelson and the Yanks are doing at St. Andrews. (AP) Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood all but predicted it in various fashion this week as players prepped for their week on the Old Course, American dominance be damned.

Poulter, No. 8 in the world rankings, raised some eyebrows when he told a Scottish newspaper that the American window of dominance at major championships was closing because the majority of the top U.S. stars are already in their 40s.

Fellow Englishman Lee Westwood, in a hilarious barb offered at a heavily attended journalism awards banquet on Tuesday night, congratulated PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem on Steve Strickers win last week at the John Deere Classic and said, “Lovely to see an American win on your tour.”

Northern Irelands McDowell, noting that the European Tour has made an annual stop at St. Andrews over the past few years, sagely predicted the familiarity would give tour members yet another advantage.

The 54-hole scorecard: So far, the three are spot-on, as they say over here, and ESPN is probably asking for a rights-fee refund. The leaderboard is littered with Europeans who are seeking to win a second consecutive major championship on the heels of McDowells victory last month at the U.S. Open, a win that snapped a 40-year Euro drought in that event and seemingly raised group expectations to ye who went 31 starts at major championships back-to-back Grand Slam wins for the second time in three years.

Maybe we should have seen it coming. It started as the British Open, but is starting to look more like the Madrid Masters.

“Its been a strong spring and summer for European golf,” said Swedens Henrik Stenson, who is tied for fourth. “A lot of players have played well and were going to have an extremely strong Ryder Cup team this fall. As you can see, Im trying my very hardest to try and make sure I get there.”

He and a legion of others. Though South Africas surprisingly stoic Louis Oosthuizen is leading by four, Europeans occupy the next five positions and the closest American is a whopping nine shots back.

Europeans have won six times on the PGA Tour already this year, including a pair by Justin Rose. The world rankings, not to mentio the color of the European flag at Ryder Cup matches.

British Open Related links Michaux: Casey hoping for major breakthrough Round 3 recap: Oosthuizen leads by four, Casey closest Leaderboard | British Open coverage | Open history Round 2 recap: Oosthuizen surges before wind arrives

Ten of the top 19 players in the world rankings are from Europe, including five from England alone. There are six Americans in the same rankings slot and only one, Anthony Kim, is in his 20s.

Still, it was hard to envision such a letdown coming into St. Andrews, which is touted as the home of golf. It has indeed been a home away from home for the Americans, who had won six of the past eight British Opens staged at the Old Course and seven of the past 10 overall. Since World War II, the Yanks have won seven of 12 at the Old Course, a list of winners that includes stars like Sam Snead and two-timers Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. Europeans had managed two wins since 1946.

At midday, the electronic scoreboard featured one American name. By the end of play, Dustin Johnson, Sean OHair and Nick Watney moved into the group of 11 players tied for eighth or better, although mostly through the attrition of others around them.

Poulter threw down the gauntlet earlier in the week when he told the that the American era is winding down because the star players who have been top-10 staples in the recent past, like Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson, Stricker and Kenny Perry, are already in their 40s. Woods, beset by putting issues, is probably the worlds oldest 34-year-old given his four knee surgeries and manifold personal issues.

“The American guys who have won all the tournaments over the past few ye can he do what Vijay [Singh] did in his 40s? Hes strong enough; its whether he is hungry enough, I guess.

“The talent to replace them is very young and needs a bit more experience, so we have a 15-year window. The Americans have a gap and that gap is being filled by European guys right now, guys who are in their late 20s, early 30s and who are doing the job right now.

“In five years time we should have taken a few majors. I dont want to put a number on it but the [English] guys that are in the top 40 in the world are all capable of winning them. Its for us to go out there and prove it but we can certainly win one or two a year, for sure.”

Stenson was Johnson, OHair and Watney are all in their 20s and have multiple wins.

“Whether some of the American players are [old] or not, age seems to be not that big of an issue, given how Tom Watson played last year in this championship and when Kenny Perry gets on those hot streaks, he seems to be unstoppable,” he said.

“It comes and goes, form comes and goes, and if you look at all the players over a long perspective, everybody goes through ups and downs. But sure, its been a good summer for Europe.”

Summer has barely started and theres a certain biennial event this fall in Wales, a proposition that is looking more difficult for the Yanks by the day. Somewhere in a nearby St. Andrews hotel room, European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie was kicking up his heels and enjoying every televised minute.

“If you have a look at the world rankings, there are a lot of Europeans up there at the moment, a lot of youngsters, and I think Colin Montgomerie is very happy about that,” said Germanys Martin Kaymer, who is No. 13 in the world. “I think its great for the European golf, and you can see that European players suit those conditions more than the Americans.

“I think in Wales this year, I hope its going to be bad weather to be honest.”

Just what the Americans need, more dark clouds.

Soggy by the seashore after three straight days of rain, what better player to emerge at the top of the Old Course swamp than a guy with perhaps the funniest nickname in professional golf.

Maybe its the gap-toothed grin or the large ears. Either way, easygoing South African Louis Oosthuizen answers to the nickname of “Shrek,” the lovable ogre of cinematic cartoon fame.

“Its the gap in the teeth,” he said. “My friends say I look like Shrek, some of my friends, and you cant choose your friends, so what can I say?”

Largely unknown in the United States, Oosthuizen is writing yet another British Open fairy tale, hoping to become the latest in a series of unheralded winners at the oldest of golfs major championships after taking the early lead Friday at 12 under par.

The 27-year-old briefly used a headcover of the cartoon ogre, before his caddie somehow convinced him that it was bringing him bad luck. Of course, at least Shrek is a name that everybody can pronounce.

It has been cringe-inducing listening to the various news outlets absolutely butcher his surname this week, if not his first name, which is pronounced Louie, not Lewis.

Weve heard Oost-Hu-Zen, Oost-Hi-Zen, and ESPN has struggled with the broadcast in the States with about three different variations on those themes. Perhaps worst of a during on by an R&A official as “Peter Oosterhuizen,” doubtlessly confusing him with former English great and longtime CBS broadcaster Peter Oosterhuis.

For the record, straight from the horses mouth, its West-Hi-Zen, and dont even get us going on his full name, which is actually Lodewicus Theodorus Oosthuizen, after his grandfather. Address him by that name and you will get the cold shoulder or a sock in the nose.

“I wont talk to them if they call me that,” he laughed.

He continues like this, he will be a house Oosthuizen tied two Hall of Famers for the lowest 36-hole score in the British Opens played on the Old Course at 132, matching the halfway play of Greg Norman and Nick Faldo.

Thats stronger than the onshore breeze, especially considering that Oosthuizen had made exactly one of eight cuts at his previous major championships. Being a pretty laid-back guy, he didnt get mad when he was half-seriously asked whether he had secured a return ticket for Friday night.

“I was a little more confident than that,” he laughed, flashing his Tom Watson smile. “I booked a house through Sunday night.”

It was a reasonable, if slightly brash, question. In missed cuts this year at the Masters and U.S. Open, his best round was a 74. In fact, his résumé is fairly modest, with four wins on the South African tour. Earlier this season at a middle-tier event in Spain, he claimed his first European Tour title.

Before the guys over age 50 began stealing the thematic spotlight at the past three Opens, the British ran through an occasional string of mostly obscure winners, starting with journeyman Scottish pro Paul Lawrie in 1999, American rookie Ben Curtis in 2003 and Japan Tour player Todd Hamilton in 2004. In particular, Lawrie and Hamilton have struggled to validate their major victories, not that its required.

Oosthuizen is part of the next wave of South African players, a member of the same peer group as Charl Schwartzel, a two-time European Tour winner this year and his former roommate when traveling on the junior circuit. Oosthuizen played in Ernie Els developmental foundation for three years starting at age 17 and turned pro immediately afterward.

Louis Oosthuizen plays through varying weather conditions during the second round, including spots of rain. (Getty Images) The son of a farmer, Oosthuizen said it was doubtful his family would have had the financial resources to play the traveling junior circuit, which was crucial to his early development. As any farmers son knows, money doesnt grow on trees, no matter how big the orchard.

“It was unbelievable what [Els] did for me traveling around the country, helping with expenses, things like that,” Oosthuizen said. “You know, hes such a good mentor, and probably without him, those three years Ive been in his foundation, I wouldnt have been here.”

Maybe, maybe not, because the guy can certainly go low. At age 20, he shot an incredible 14-under 57 in a practice round at his home club, Mossel Bay, in South Africa. Not surprisingly, his website is www.louis57oosthuizen.com.

At a solid No. 54 in the world rankings, Oosthuizen easily laughed off the references to his not-so-tidy Grand Slam outings in the past. After winning in Spain four months ago for the first time on a truly major tour, everything feels different now.

There was an apt exchange between Shrek and Princess Fiona in the original movie in the popular series, where shes trying to get him to more aggressively attack a pesky dragon.

“Youre meant to charge in, sword drawn, banner flying,” Fiona said. “Thats what all the other knights did.”

“Yeah, right before they burst into flame,” Shrek said sarcastically.

After making his second cut in nine majors, maybe Oosthuizen is ready to slay some fire-breathers, too.

“Yeah, it wasnt very great, was it?” he laughed of his majors history. “But like I said, again, it was a matter of not believing in myself, I think. Everyone around here is telling me, Youve got the shots, youre playing well, and again, that win earlier this season just got my mind set in a different way.”

The Old Course was defenseless and no one took advantage of it more than Rory McIlroy.

The 21-year-old from Northern Ireland tied the major championship record Thursday by shooting a 9-under 63 in the opening round of the British Open.

One of golfs brightest prospects, McIlroy started his romp with an eagle at the 352-yard ninth, where he drove the green and rolled in the putt. He then made six birdies on the homeward holes for a 30 that tied the tournaments back-nine record.

McIlroy became only the eighth player to go so low at the British Open, equaling a mark from 17 years ago by the late Payne Stewart at Royal St. George. Overall, just 22 players have shot 63 in one of the four major tournaments, including Greg Norman and Vijay Singh, who each did it twice.

The last to do it: Tiger Woods at the 2007 PGA Championship.

“I didnt get off to a flying start,” McIlroy said. “The eagle on 9 really sort of turned things around for me, and I just got going from there. It was great to get into the rhythm of the round and get into a flow. And yeah, it was a very pleasant round of golf.”

McIlroy had a chance to claim the record all to himself.

A brilliant approach at No. 17, the famed “Road Hole,” left him with a 5-footer for birdie. But the putt slid wide of the cup, and McIlroy rolled back his head in disappointment after tapping in the par, knowing that he had squandered a chance at a truly historic score.

While no one ever expects to shoot 63 in a major, it was certainly a day for posting a low number.

The birthplace of golf played like a muni, with hardly any wind blowing in off St. Andrews Bay and only a sprinkling of rain. In fact, the sun popped out just as McIlroy was finishing up, and competitors were able to strip off their jackets and play in short sleeves.

“The old lady had no clothes on today,” said 60-year-old Tom Watson, who opened with a 73 and was one of the few players who failed to break par.

When the expected storms didnt materialize, at least for the morning starters, there were red numbers all over the place. John Daly matched the best score of his Open career with a 66, a number that was equaled by Scottish journeyman Andrew Coltart.

Woods shot a 67, showing this might be the week for his first victory since being tarnished by a sex scandal that had the British media speculating as much about his personal life as the prospects of him becoming the first player to win three Open titles at St. Andrews.

The worlds top-ranked player romped to dominating wins in 2000 and 2005; a third straight would give him 15 major titles, just three shy of Jack Nicklaus career record.

“Its getting better every week,” Woods said. “Im hitting shots that I havent hit in a long time. Its building.”

Daly knows a thing or two about problems away from the course, from failed marriages and financial woes to trouble with alcohol and weight.

He underwent surgery to deal with his ballooning waist line, and has lost nearly 100 pounds. But hes ranked 455th in the world and his best finish of the year was a tie for 24th at the Puerto Rico Open.

No matter, Daly still has quite the following. Fans of “grip it and rip it” had no trouble spotting him at the Old Course, where he wore lavender paisley pants, a sky blue sleeveless sweater, a peach shirt and a turquoise cap. None of it matched. Not that it mattered.

Strolling the course puffing on a cigarette and carrying a diet soda, Daly put up his best score since a 66 at Royal St. Geo four putts lipped out or caught the edge of the cup, including one that spun 180 degrees around the back of the 12th hole to end a streak of four straight birdies.

Could it be 1995 all over again?

That year, Daly managed to put aside his problems long enough to capture his second major championship, beating Costantino Rocca in a British Open playoff with a mop of blond hair that was much longer than it is now.

“Its a golf course, I dont know, I just love it. I dont know why,” Daly said. “It suits my game. Just a special, special place.”

But the Old Course relies on the elements to provide its best defense. Without the usual rain and wind, it was like target practice for the worlds best.

Of the first 51 players to finish, only 13 posted scores above par. Among those in the red: defending Open champion Stewart Cink, who got off to what normally would have been a very solid start.

This day, though, a 70 felt like an opportunity squandered.

“It was out there for the taking,” said Cink, who beat Watson in a playoff at Turnberry after the five-time champion missed an 8-foot putt on the 72nd hole that would have made him the oldest major champion in golf history. “I definitely left a few out there.”

The afternoon starters, including Phil Mickelson, could only hope the favorable conditions held up for them.

“For the real golfers, this is for the taking,” said Nick Faldo, who has played only a couple of competitive rounds this year and still shot 72. “For me, it makes it playable.”

Remember what Jim Croce said: ‘you don’t tug on Superman’s cape, you don’t spit into the wind, you don’t pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger and you don’t mess around with Jim.’ And from this corner, there are some dos and don’t to remember when talking about Del Mar.

The track the Bing Crosby basically built opens on July 21 and will run till September 8. Sun, sights, talented horses and every meaningful owner in California will be in full force for the entire meeting.

Before getting into the human behaviors that are musts, let’s go over what one should avoid and embrace during the seaside stand.

Do get to the track as early as possible if you are one of the lucky ones to personally attend. This will allow you to avoid the inevitable logjam on the highway and will assure that you can get that early Daily Double down. With so many sights to see, both human and equine, show up early, find a spot where you can relax, and start studying.

Do pay strict attention to where the winners are coming from on a daily basis. Since the introduction of the synthetic at Del Mar, the track in the morning seldom plays like the same track in the afternoon. It has been attributed to the way the heat, humidity and the salt air affect the surface itself.

Do give extra credence to runners that have performed well on the surface in the past and early in the meet give a slight edge to runners that have been sent down to Del Mar early and gotten a work or two over the surface this year.

Do give South American bred runners a long shot look. Year after year they seem to thrive at the seaside.

Do respect the potent barns of the leading trainers last year who were in order, John Sadler, Bob Baffert, Doug O’Neill, Mike Mitchell and Jeff Mullins.

Don’t underestimate the less than high profile barns of A. C. Avila, Pete Eurton, Vladimir Cerin and Brian Koriner.

Those trainers saddled a total of 134 during last year’s meeting and greeted 28 runners back in the winner’s circle.

Don’t get caught up in the chalk fiesta and jump on all the short prices you’ll see. Some of the younger fans that are in mass at this meet just want to cash tickets. Some don’t care if the price is 3-5 or 3-2. They just get a thrill of cashing. That’s why short prices abound.

Don’t be scared to take a shot with Northern California shippers.

Don’t you dare leave the track without trying a margarita. There is no better way to soothe a tough beat or celebrate a trifecta hit.

Last but not least, don’t rush out to beat the traffic. When the final sounds of Bing Crosby are blasting throughout the track, take a minute to take it all in. With the pretty people in no hurry to sit in the parking lot waiting for the throng to disappear, you can take this guarantee that there will be some human sights lingering that you will not want to miss.

Are you looking for a trainer you can gamble on with complete confidence and get value at times in the process? Meet William Bret Calhoun.

A current glance at the leading conditioners in the country peg Calhoun at number 8 in money won and 7th in races won so far this year.

Popping at a win percentage of 26, Bret has the highest in the money percentage of any trainer in the top 10 at 62%.

Calhoun is no overnight success. Born May 12, 1964 in Dallas, Texas, his father William, a schoolteacher, was an owner and trainer at Louisiana Downs.

Dad was the moneyman, as he would claim a few horses and Bret would train them.

Calhoun won his first race in April of 1994 and just 3 years later saddled his first stakes winner in Sweet Misty.

The last 2 years, Bret finished 4th and 8th nationally in wins.

Like all trainers, Calhoun has his strengths and weaknesses but in the last 5 years he has popped with 24% of his starters with a median winning price of just under 2-1.

Over that same time period, he is 18% with debuting juveniles and even better with juveniles making their second start at 24%. When he drops runners from Maiden Special Weight to maiden claimers he is potent at 29%.

Switching surfaces is one of his telltale ploys, as Calhoun is 27% going turf to dirt but only 18% going dirt to turf.

As far as switching distances is concerned, Bret is a bit more potent going route to sprint rather than sprint to route.

When this guy switches to blinkers on, his runners are very live to the tune of 26% with a median winning price of nearly 3-1. And when he switches to blinkers off, that is the time to really get down as those runners win at a 36% clip.

Since he has been in the game for so long, Calhoun has a good eye for a new purchase as his first after claim runners succeed at 22% and he is even better after getting to know such a horse. Those 2nd after claim runners greet the cameraman 33% of the time and 68% run in the money.

Calhoun can read a condition book as well as anybody as attested by the fact that he is 26% spotting horses to win after they won their prior start.

One of this conditioner’s best value moves is when he brings a horse back in a hurry. When his runners have come back between one and 7 days in the last 5 years, half of his 4 starters have won, another ran third and the median winning price is 4-1.

As far as his comeback runners are concerned he gets better with each start with runners off a 45-day layoff as his first off that time frame wins at 20% and his third after layoff runners cash at 26%.

Finally, when his horses get bet it is because of a very good reason. He is 41%, much better than the national average, with favorites.

One of the best things to know about a trainer is the negative points and Calhoun has one glaring negative. In the last 5 years he has blanked after 801 starters that were just beaten favorites.

Take the good and the bad, and gamblers can play this trainer with the knowledge that he is one of the best in the sport.

Jack Nicklaus always used to say that he loved to hear his fellow competitors moan and groan about difficult course setups, out-of-control greens and lousy weather, mostly because that usually meant he could eliminate the grouser from the list of players who might have been able to beat him that week.

Countless players participating in practice rounds for the 65th U.S. Womens Open came off a brutally difficult Oakmont golf course shaking their heads and worrying how they might avoid being embarrassed. Paula Creamer, on the other hand, never let anyone see her sweat, or grimace or complain about much of anything, from the start of her week to its fabulous finish.

Certainly few could have blamed her if she did. After all, she was playing her fourth straight tournament since returning to the LPGA Tour from thumb surgery at the end of March. She missed the cut the week earlier in Toledo, and her thumb was so sore and swollen, she was not even allowed to hit balls off the ground at the practice range until she arrived here for the tournament.

And yet, when her last par putt had dropped in the Pittsburgh suburbs late Sunday afternoon, there was Miss Pretty in Pink standing tallest of them all with a four-shot victory and the only below-par score in the field, a 3-under 281 and a final-round 69. Her left thumb was still wrapped in tape and numbed by an ice bag not long before she hoisted the championship trophy after what had to be one of the most physically demanding and mentally draining weeks of her playing career.

“There was a time before my surgery I thought I might not play golf again if the surgery goes wrong,” she said. “Here we are, winning the U.S. Open. Its pretty cool.”

It seemed perfectly fitting that Creamer would finally break through for her first major championship on a sprawling, brawling golf course located in an area that has always taken immense pride in its tough-guy pro football team and its shot-and-a-beer, blue-collar Steel City work ethic.

She may have been dressed in pink head-to-toe, with a pink bag, pink shoes with pink soles, pink grips and a Pink Panther head cover. But beneath the girlish garb and other assorted accouterments was a tough-girl athlete who played with true grit all week, a 23-year-old woman who never brought up the state of her painful thumb unless she was asked, and then often made light of it.

Despite a thumb injury, Paula Creamer takes home her first major title. (Getty Images) On Saturday night, after showing up at the course at 5:30 a.m., finishing 15 holes of her rain-delayed second round in the morning, then playing 13 more holes in her third round until play was halted at 8:37 p.m., a thoroughly drained and exhausted Creamer graciously came into the press room to talk about one of her longest days in golf.

(Just as an aside, Cristie Kerr, winner of two of her last three events, declined an interview request Saturday night after three double bogeys in 13 holes took her out of contention. It was a classless act, to say the very least, unbecoming of a 32-year-old woman who only two weeks ago had moved into the No. 1 position in the world rankings. If youre the best player in the world, act like it, win or lose.)

And now back to Creamer. Asked about her thumb Saturday night, she smiled and said “its tired, my whole left hand is pretty tired. Ill probably sleep with an ice bag on my hand. Im afraid to take this tape off. My thumb is going to explode out of it. The more I think about making pars, the less my thumb bothers me.”

An hour earlier, her father Paul, a graduate of the Naval Academy and a former airline pilot, walked behind the gallery ropes following her progress and candidly admitted his daughter was “in uncharted waters.

“We werent even sure what to do between rounds because we havent been faced with it,” Paul Creamer said. “Its not the best thing to happen, but these are the cards youre dealt.”

Creamer has been allowed to hit only 40 practice balls a day before she plays. She needed 58 shots to finish her second round and 51 shots in the third, meaning she was far over the proverbial pitch-count limit in terms of putting extra stress on the finger.

“Shes tough,” Paul Creamer said. “Shell fight, she wont complain.”

Sunday was another grueling test for the California native playing in her eighth Open. Once again, she had an early-morning wakeup call, this time to finish out the last five holes of her third round. Then it was more ice on the thumb, an abbreviated warm-up and 18 more holes in the final round, starting off with a three-shot lead as the only player in the field to be under par after 54 holes.

It was hardly a walk in the park for Creamer in the sun-kissed final round Sunday afternoon, especially after South Koreas Na Yeon Choi, who won a week ago in Toledo, make a six-foot eagle putt at the ninth hole to finish a 5-under front nine and creep within two shots of Creamers lead.

But Creamer birdied the ninth herself, and when Choi had a three-putt bogey up ahead at the 13th, Creamer was able to open a four-shot lead as she made the turn to the back nine, the only player in the field in red under-par numbers, and she continued to follow her game plan to think par on every hole the rest of the way in.

In the end, she maintained that four-shot advantage with some gorgeous ball-striking and clutch birdies at the 14th and 15th. She insisted afterward that she had never looked at a leaderboard all day until she got to the 18th hole. She also admitted that “I dont even think Im 80 percent.

“I think Im about 60 percent. It just shows you how important the mental side of golf can be. When I had my cast on, I just kept thinking Oakmont, Oakmont, Oakmont. For my fourth week out, Ill take it, Ill definitely take it.”