Until Padraig Harrington’s victory at Carnoustie last year, the question continually being asked was when are we going to see another victory from a European in the Open? Now, it is being asked even more strongly of the British contingent.

Before the Irishman’s win, you had to go back to Paul Lawrie, in 1999, to find a winner from Europe. In the intervening years, a number have shown promise — particularly in the Ryder Cup — but it is time they started to deliver in the major championships.

A challenge within the challenge this week will centre on a group of English players determined to become the first to put their names alongside Nick Faldo, the best Englishman of all, on the Claret Jug. The last of Faldo’s three Open Championship victories came at Muirfield, in 1992.

There are 27 Englishmen in the field of 156, although in reality there are only four or five who may truly be expected to challenge: Justin Rose, Lee Westwood, Paul Casey, Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher, the latter being inexperienced but in great form. And in a part of the world in which he grew up, Nick Dougherty might be considered an outside bet. Luke Donald pulled out because of a wrist injury suffered at the US Open.

Among a dwindling band of Scots (five), only Colin Montgomerie has any hope, while Graeme McDowell, the one Northern Irishman in the field, has every right to fancy his chances, having found a rich vein of form that culminated in winning the Scottish Open on Sunday.

And whither the Welsh? The Principality does not have a single representative.

The British contenders

Justin Rose

Age 27

Best Open Tied 4th (1998)

Top-ten finishes in majors 4

World ranking 9