USPGA: The European Challenge

Profiles of the European representatives at Southern Hills.

Profiles of the European representatives who will be teeing-up for the 89th USPGA Championship at Southern Hills. Click here for European profiles B-E Click here for European profiles F-K Click here for European profiles L-W Thomas Bjorn (Den) - Age 36. Played 9. Cuts made: 5. Best: 2nd (2005). Twice runner-up in The Open and joint second in 2005 USPGA when he shot a major record-equalling 63 in 2005 third round, then lost by a shot to Phil Mickelson. The Dane can be frustratingly inconsistent and his current form suggests he is unlikely to be amongst the challengers come Sunday, but if he finds some form and starts to enjoy himself, Bjorn should never be discounted. Markus Brier (Aut) - 39. Debut. Became the first Austrian to win on the European Tour when he clinched the BA-CA Golf Open in his homeland in June 2006. Added a second title in April of this year when he emerged triumphant at the China Open. Put in a highly-creditable performance at the Open Championship at Carnoustie where - having played with Tiger Woods for the first time in his life in the third round - he finished in a tie for 12th. This will be Brier's first major outing in America. Paul Casey (Eng) - 30. Played 5. Cuts: 2. Best: 59th (2005). Pipped by Padraig Harrington to the European Order of Merit last season, the Englishman is rated by many observers as a major winner of the future and certainly has the game. But despite top-ten finishes at the Masters and US Open this year, has yet to give himself a genuine chance to win one and is often let down by one bad round. However, when he is hot, he is roasting, simply sizzling and is at home on American soil. Daniel Chopra (Swe) - 33. Played 1. Cuts: 1. Best: 41st (2006). Was first reserve, and earned his place at Southern Hills after Tiger Woods (already exempt) won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. The Swede's first major outing since the USPGA last year where he made the cut at Medinah to finish in a tie for 41st. Darren Clarke (NI) - 38. Played 8. Cuts: 2. Best: 9th (2000). Ever-popular, Clarke is probably just hoping for a decent showing with his game having understandably slumped over the last 12 months following well-documented personal tragedy. Has received an invitation despite his world ranking dipping outside the world's top 100, but will be pleased just to stay on for the weekend having missed the cut at the Masters and Open Championship and missed the US Open altogether. Luke Donald (Eng) - 29. Played 4. Cuts: 4. Best: 3rd (2006). The Englishman learned his golf at college in America and his straight hitting and pinpoint iron-play suggest his game is ideally set up for the PGA. That was certainly the case at Medinah last year when three splendid rounds saw him join Tiger Woods in the final pairing on Sunday. However, he could not maintain his form and a closing 74 saw him finish six strokes back of the eventual winner in a tie for third. Still looking for his major breakthrough and, after another disappointing showing at the Open Championship recently, it does seem more likely that if it does come, it will be on American soil. Tied for tenth at Augusta earlier this year although was never really in the shake-up for victory. He then went on to miss the cut at Oakmont, while his form on the PGA Tour has been solid rather than spectacular with a couple of second places to his credit. Nick Dougherty (Eng) - 25. Played 2. Cuts: 0. Protege of six-time major winner Nick Faldo who spotted him at a junior tournament. The Liverpudlian was top Englishman as he finished seventh at US Open at Oakmont in June after setting first day pace. Ever-improving and not short on confidence, Dougherty seems to relish the chance to mix it with the big guns and be looking for another big performance on American soil. Bradley Dredge (Wal) - 34. Played 2. Cuts: 0. The Welshman was only three off the lead with a round to go in the Masters in April in what was his first appearance at Augusta, but closed with an 83. His biggest win came alongside Stephen Dodd at the World Cup in 2005, when Wales won without hitting a shot on the Sunday after torrential rain flooded the course. Simon Dyson (Eng) - 29. Debut. Former Walker Cup team-mate of Luke Donald and Paul Casey, he will be making his USPGA debut at Southern Hills following an impressive season on the European Tour last year when he won twice in Indonesia and Holland. Four more top-tens this year (including in Malaysia and Singapore), Dyson has earned the reputation of something of an 'Asia specialist', but will be hoping to prove he can cut it on American soil. Johan Edfors (Swe) - 31. Played 1. Cuts: 0. Made his USPGA debut last year when he was undoubtedly the most improved player of the 2006 European Tour, winning three times. He claimed the TCL Classic in China, The Quinn Direct British Masters and the Barclays Scottish Open - on his way to tenth on the Order of Merit, having ended the previous year at qualifying school. Perhaps unsurprisingly has not been quite so impressive in 2007, he is currently 65th on the European rankings and has missed the cut at all three majors.