Jacklin asks Westwood to join his club

Oldest swinger in town is only European winner of US Open in 85 years. He hopes a record UK contingent can emulate him at last

(AP)

By their nature, exclusive golf clubs are not prone to throwing open their doors in their search for new members. But the club entitled "European winners of the US Open" is unashamedly desperate for a fresh intake. "Nothing would give me more pleasure," said its captain, who also doubles up as secretary, groundkeeper, steward and cleaner. "After 40 years of being on my tod, I'm getting a bit lonely."

Tony Jacklin is selling himself short. The 1970 champion does not happen to be merely the only European winner in the last four decades; he also happens to be the only one in the last eight and a half decades. "I suppose I am," said the Englishman, speaking from his home in Florida. "When I won, there was 45 years going all the way back to the victory of the last European [Scotland's Willie Macfarlane]. So that's 85 years with little old me in the middle. Just shows how hard the US Open is to win."

Indeed it does; as does the cast list which has tried to emulate his Hazeltine heroics. Severiano Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam, Sandy Lyle, Jose Maria Olazabal, Colin Montgomerie... In differing degrees they all came close to landing what the Americans refer to as their "national championship".

And this week a record contingent including five of the world's top 10 will attempt to fill the game's most baffling void. It is not just because of the anniversary that Jacklin anticipates Pebble Beach being special. "I think we have the best chance of getting a European winner for many, many years," said the 65-year-old. "There's so many of these fellas playing well, and coming to the top of their games. [Lee] Westwood, [Ian] Poulter, [Paul] Casey, [Luke] Donald – they're all world-class players now.

"How many does England have in the field – 13? That's incredible. Just think, back in 1970 I was not just the only Briton but the sole European. Just me. I was the Lone Ranger."

Tonto was not needed and if any of the wannabes are seeking any inspiration they could do worse than look up the tale of the 25-year-old lorry driver's son from Scunthorpe who travelled across the Atlantic and belittled a field containing the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Lee Trevino. He did not simply win, he won by seven strokes, the largest margin in 49 years. "It was the week of my life," he said. "I can't recall a week when I played better, or a week that meant more to me. It was inspired golf in what was just my second US Open. It doesn't get any better than increasing your lead in each round."

If only his country viewed it similarly. "Certainly in Scunthorpe they applauded," he said. "I remember going through the town sitting in the back of an open Cadillac waving at people. But I'm not sure the British golf or sports world realised the significance of it at the time. It wasn't on telly and there was only one European journalist there. Still, it is appreciated now. Every year that spins around, so the interest increases. Strange really. It should be the other way around."

It's not strange, it's typically British; as Fred Perry and the boys of '66 would confirm. There isn't another country which builds up its curses with such relish, or goes on to report the resulting weight of expectation as "crippling". Jacklin does not subscribe to this theory. "Yeah, it's fantastic for such a small nation like Britain to have so many at the top of the rankings, but that doesn't give us or them the right to win one of the big four," he said.

"I don't know what is driving them," he added. "They're all making incredible livings. But they should know that you're remembered for your majors not how much money or other tournaments you won.

"Do any of them have what it takes? That's the whole point. They don't really know, we really don't know. They clearly have the talent but it's the bits you can't see that do the winning; the heart and the mind. Until they get in the position to get it done, they don't know if they have it or not. Some don't. You saw that when Colin Montgomerie had that chance at Winged Foot a few years ago [in the 2006 US Open]. That was his moment and what happened?

"It can all unravel so quickly. You have to feel it in the gut, feel the nerves and do it anyway. I recall a conversation I had with Nicklaus after I won my Open. I told him: 'Jack, I never thought I could be so nervous and still be able to play.' 'I know,' he said. 'Best feeling in the world, isn't it?' That was all I ever wanted to know; that he went through it, too. This is the barrier our boys will have to break down."

Unsurprisingly given his top-threes in the last three majors, Jacklin is most enamoured by Westwood's challenge. "I've heard him say that he'll carry on banging on the door until it opens and I agree with him," he said. "There's no one way to win a major – sometimes it's more about someone else losing it – and the more you're there the more you realise this.

"Look at Nicklaus: he had 19 seconds to go with his 18 firsts. But saying that, opportunities won't carry on presenting themselves. Lee must take one of them soon."

If he does, a man will go overboard with excitement. But, let us hope, not literally. "On Sunday we set off on a cruise of the Caribbean," said Jacklin. "But I can assure you I will find a TV somewhere to watch the last nine holes. It's time I had some company. That club feels just too bloody exclusive."

Tony Jacklin plays at the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship. Go to www.britishpar3championship.co.uk for details

The British are coming

The record UK contingent in next week's US Open:

England:

Lee Westwood (World ranking 3; age 37)

Ian Poulter (WR 6; age 34)

Luke Donald (WR 8; age 32)

Paul Casey (WR 9; age 32)

Ross Fisher (WR 38; age 29)

Oliver Wilson (WR 57; age 29)

Simon Dyson (WR 71; age 32)

Brian Davis (WR 73; age 35)

Ross McGowan (WR 79; age 28)

Simon Khan (pictured left: WR 107; age 37)

James Morrison (WR 136; age 25)

Gary Boyd (WR 298; age 23)

Matthew Richardson (WR 773; age 25)

Wales:

Rhys Davies (WR 45; age 25)

Northern Ireland

Rory McIlroy (WR 10; age 21)

Graeme McDowell (WR 36; age 30)

Gareth Maybin (WR 122; age 29)