Europeans aim for elusive victory at Whistling Straits

No European golfers have won the PGA Championship since the format was switched from match play in 1958, but Colin Mont-gomerie is hoping to end that drought.

Scotland's Montgomerie said the links-style feel of the Whistling Straits course will provide a boost to the Europeans, especially the ones who don't play that often on the USPGA Tour.

"I feel more comfortable on a course like this than I do on some others, so I am looking forward to this very much," said Montgomerie, who has 28 career titles.

"It is more like playing a links course than your average American target golf that we tend to play over here. Nature tends to play more of a role than technology."

Montgomerie has come the closest of any European to winning the final major of the year, losing in a playoff nine years ago to Australian Steve Elkington.

Montgomerie's results haven't been as impressive since. He tied for sixth in 1999, tied for 13th in 1997, tied for 39th in 2000, tied for 44th in 1998, missed the cut three times and was disqualified in 2001.

German's Bernhard Langer said this course resembles those in Europe more so than most US designs. Langer said the weather and an abundance of bunkers would play a major factor in the scores this week.

"I believe you can play this course 50 times, 100 times and you would still see things that you didn't see before," said Langer, the captain of the European Ryder Cup team. "The wind changes the course so much and I hear stories of 1,000 and 3,000 bunkers."

Two-time Masters champion Langer finished tied for 57th at this event last year and tied for 23rd in 2003.

He has four top 10 finishes on the USPGA this year.

"It is a fantastic venue, great golf course," Langer said. "Maybe a little extreme here and there, but it's certainly going to be a fabulous test."