BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. | It&#8217;s been a long, long time since a European took home the Wanamaker Trophy for winning the PGA Championship.</p><p>Ever since Scotland&#8217;s Tommy Armour beat Gene Sarazen 1-up in what was then a match-play format for the 1930 title, fans across the pond have had little to cheer about in the last major championship of the season.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s the same old question arises every time,&#8221; Englishman Ian Poulter said when asked why the drought has lasted so long.</p><p>But there are several reasons why that losing streak might finally come to an end.</p><p>First, Padraig Harrington has won two of the last five major titles, and that may be enough to stamp him as the man to beat when the tournament begins today.</p><p>Second, with Tiger Woods still recovering from season-ending knee surgery, few other players have taken advantage by playing consistently well.</p><p>Third, the European team captured the 2004 Ryder Cup by a landslide 18 1/2 -9 1/2 margin at this course. They danced on the 18th green, sprayed champagne on each other and reveled in victory.</p><p>And now almost all of them feel that, since they&#8217;ve won collectively on the course, why shouldn&#8217;t one of them do it again?</p><p>&#8226;<strong>ENOUGH</strong><strong>PRACTICE: </strong>The image of golfers taking the opportunity to play practice round after practice round at a major championship venue has been shattered by Rocco Mediate.</p><p>Mediate, who lost to Woods in a playoff at the U.S. Open, is ready for today&#8217;s opening round after a total of nine practice holes on the course known as &#8220;The Monster.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;I played last July in the British Open qualifier here and the golf course is right in front of you,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The greens are difficult, but they are still right in front of you. I remember them all.&#8221;</p><p>&#8226;<strong>BUSY TIME</strong>: Chad Campbell has a lot on his mind &#8212; the PGA Championship, trying to make the Ryder Cup team, the PGA Tour playoffs for the FedEx Cup. And in the middle of this, he&#8217;s preparing for fatherhood.</p><p>His wife, Amy, is expecting a boy on Sept. 4.</p><p>&#8220;She more worried about the schedule than I am,&#8221; Campbell said.</p><p>&#8226;<strong>LATE CHANGE</strong>: Shingo Katayama, No. 52 in the official world golf rankings, withdrew Wednesday due to recurring back problems. He was replaced by Michael Allen. The 156-player field now includes 93 of the world&#8217;s top 100.