By Matt Slater BBC Sport Online golf editor

With only one win in 75 years, it is something of an understatement to say the US Open has not been the happiest of hunting grounds for European golfers.

The basic rule of thumb at the US Open is that it is won by an American - although South Africa's Ernie Els and Retief Goosen have been doing their best to disprove this in recent years.

For Europe, Tony Jacklin's victory in 1970 is the honourable exception to this rule.

Monty went close at three US Opens in the 1990s

It has not always been such a futile trip for golfers from this side of the pond. British golfers, in fact, won the first 16 US Opens between 1895 and 1910.

But after Tommy Armour's win for Scotland in 1927 there has been only Jacklin's triumph to get excited about.

Invitations to play at the US Open are extended to all winners of the event over the last 10 years, all winners of the other three majors in the last five years and all players in the top 50 of the world rankings.

Invites are also sent to the top 30 money winners on the PGA Tour last year, and the top 15 on the European Tour.

Garcia: Europe's top player at the 2001 US Open

The top 15 at last year's US Open are welcomed back, and the US Golf Association also hands out a few special invitations to old friends.

This year 18 brave souls will be making the trip to Bethpage from Europe - some more in hope than expectation.

• Sergio Garcia (Spain), ranked 5th in the world, finished 12th at 2001 US Open
• Padraig Harrington (Ireland), ranked 12th, finished 30th in 2001
• Colin Montgomerie (Scotland), ranked 16th, finished 52nd in 2001
• Darren Clarke (Northern Ireland), ranked 18th, finished 30th in 2001
• Bernhard Langer (Germany), ranked 21st, finished 40th in 2001
• Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain), ranked 23rd, missed the cut in 2001
• Niclas Fasth (Sweden), ranked 34th, did not play in 2001
• Thomas Bjorn (Denmark), ranked 35th, finished 22nd in 2001
• Jesper Parnevik (Sweden), ranked 38th, finished 30th in 2001
• Paul McGinley (Ireland), ranked 46th, did not play in 2001
• Nick Faldo (England), ranked 62nd, finished 72nd in 2001
• Paul Lawrie (Scotland), ranked 88th, missed cut in 2001
• Robert Karlsson (Sweden), ranked 100th, did not play in 2001
• David Howell (England), ranked 106th, did not play in 2001
• Per-Ulrik Johansson (Sweden), ranked 119th, did not play in 2001
• Thomas Levet (France), ranked 129th, did not play in 2001
• Jean Van de Velde (France), not in top 200, did not play in 2001
• Luke Donald (England), not in top 200, did not play in 2001

With the rescheduled Ryder Cup now only three months away, a good European showing at Bethpage is more necessary than usual.

Could this, at last, be Monty's year? Or will one of Garcia, Harrington or Clarke make their breakthrough performance at a major?

And am I the only person who thinks a last hurrah at a major is not beyond Faldo?