IT is a question that casts a giant shadow over this country's finest golfers as the sport's greatest tournament gets under way today.

Why are the British so useless in the British Open?

Strictly speaking, of course, the event is known purely and simply as The Open - despite American attempts to regionalise it.

But whatever its name, it is an open and shut case that Brits have done little more than make up the numbers in the last decade.

Starting from 1993, when Australia's Greg Norman won the last Open to be staged at Sandwich, just one of the ten winners has been British.

Even that victor, Paul Lawrie, had his 1999 glory tarnished by the raging row over the merits of Carnoustie's ultra-tough course.

Either side of the Scot's triumph, the old Claret Jug has been a thing of American beauty.

Only Africans Nick Price and Ernie Els have broken up the United States' hegemony - but why?

Why is a country where links golf was born capable of producing so few Open champions?

Moreover, how can Europe's players punch well above their weight in the Ryder Cup - yet be little more than bystanders every third week in July?

The likes of Phillip Price, winner of the European Open 11 days ago, seem inspired by the Ryder Cup - but intimidated by The Open.

The galvanising effect of the team spirit that is generated by Europe's biennial battle with the United States cannot excuse the continent's woeful record.

Indeed, Lawrie was the last European to win a Major - 15 elite events ago.

Colin Montgomerie's name ought to sit alongside that of Lawrie in golf's most exclusive club by now, but his Open record is wretched.

Darren Clarke has flirted with glory on a handful of occasions, only to falter in the dying stages.

Padraig Harrington may be from the Republic of Ireland, but he too seems to suffer from the Open-itis that afflicts the British contingent.

Then there are the old stagers - former Open victors such as Nick Faldo and Sandy Lyle - whose best days are behind them.

Faldo, who turns 46 tomorrow, remains adamant that he has a Major success left in him. But is anyone listening any more?

The young brigade, including Justin Rose and Ian Poulter, may yet be Open winners of the future.

But this is about the present, and Britain's assault on Sandwich 2003.

Unfortunately, one is left to trawl through the usual suspects in the search for the serious contenders - and precious few of those are from this country.

Do not believe the hype that sees this Open billed as a shoot-out between Els and Tiger Woods.

Of course, those two currently stand astride the golfing world but when was the Claret Jug last fought over by just two players?

Retaining The Open crown is so difficult that no one has managed the feat since Tom Watson, who won in 1982 and 1983.

And Woods, still suffering from a knee injury, remains a shadow of the man that struck fear into the heart of every golfer only a couple of years ago.

Of the rest, Phil Mickelson is saddled with the tag of the best player never to have won a Major, closely followed by Sergio Garcia.

Jim Furyk arrived in Kent fresh from lifting the US Open, while Retief Goosen has topped the European Order of Merit in the last two years.

A welter of other players slept fitfully last night, dreaming of Open glory, but can we make just one plea: could the Brit Pack give us a champion to be proud of?