Could Englishman hoist claret jug?

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland - Rule Britannia.

A British golfer hasn't won his own Open in more than a decade, and it has been even longer since an Englishman hoisted the claret jug.

That could change at St. Andrews this week, given the way golfers from the United Kingdom - all of Europe, really - have dominated the winner's lists on both sides of the Atlantic lately.

"I expect one of us to be in contention on Sunday, just pure numbers," said Justin Rose, who's leading the charge after winning twice on the PGA Tour in a five-week span.

"Numerically, you look at the world rankings, you look at the opportunity for us. It's probably better than it's been, dare I say, ever. Just using that basis, I think one of us will be in contention Sunday afternoon."

Stuck in the shadows of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson for so many years, the Europeans pose their biggest threat since the days of Seve, Faldo and Ollie.

After eight years without a major champion, Europeans have now won four of the last 12, including Graeme McDowell's surprise win at the U.S. Open last month.

McDowell's big victory was part of a stretch that saw Europeans win four PGA events in five weeks - and Rose had a shot at winning the fifth as the 54-hole leader.

While part of Europe's rise is simply cyclical, there is more to it.

When Padraig Harrington won the 2007 British Open, he was Europe's first major champion since Paul Lawrie at Carnoustie in 1999.

Harrington kept the claret jug for a second straight year in 2008, and added the Wanamaker Trophy at the PGA Championship.

Suddenly, all those players who wondered if they'd ever catch up to the Americans, Australians and the South Africans realized one of their own already had.

Same with McDowell's win at Pebble Beach, the first at America's national championship by a European in 40 years.

"To see him win that, it gave me a lot of confidence just to know winning a major wasn't as far away as I thought it was," Rory McIlroy said.

"Getting over to the States and playing a lot more with obviously the best players in the world ... you become more comfortable with them," McDowell said. "And, obviously, you feel like you can start to compete, rather than seeing them less often and being overawed.

"I'm just proud to be part of a strong British and Irish contingent, and part of a strong European contingent right now. It would be great to see another one of the boys win this week."