There were two certainties as we began our build up to the final major of the year. First I would fail to properly heed our hire car sat-nav and, secondly, we would be discussing the absence of European success at the US PGA.

So, soon after our connecting flight to Detroit had been cancelled, we were beginning a 300-mile road-trip with an unwanted tour of one of Chicago’s less salubrious neighbourhoods.

And, once we got to the outskirts of Detroit, it was only five minutes into the first press conference of the week that Lee Westwood was being asked why no European has won this event since Tommy Armour in 1930.

“It’s amazing that no European has won in such a long time. When you consider the strength of European golf over the last few years,” Westwood replied.

But surely there has never been a better chance of that run being ended in recent times as there is this week.

This Oakland Hills course is the scene of Europe’s greatest Ryder Cup triumph on American soil.

Of the dozen players that made up Bernhard Langer’s team in 2004 only Paul McGinley, Thomas Levet, David Howell and the injured Luke Donald are not competing this week.

That means there are eight Europeans in the field who are buoyed with the best of memories.

Already Westwood and Darren Clarke have downed pints at the nearby Irish bar where Ryder Cup victory was celebrated long and hard four years ago.

“We weren’t up on the bar like we were then,” Westwood grinned. “I think our footprints have only just been rubbed away and yes the barman remembered us.”

But, of course, it’s a totally different format and environment this week. Strokeplay instead of matchplay, everyone for themselves rather than the “all for one” spirit European golfers biennially find so easy to harness.

The course is somewhat different too. Architect Rees Jones has added 318 yards and the course historically referred to as “the Monster” now measures a 7,395 par 70.

Bunkers have been deepened, the water at the 16th widened and the par three ninth now measures a ridiculous 257 yards and the 17th, where Howell hit his crucial six iron that was the European Tour’s shot of the year in 2004, is now 238 yards.

“I notice they have given us a bit of fairway short of 17 and nine, so if you want you can lay-up,” Westwood quipped.

Championship favourite Phil Mickelson believes the changes will be mainly felt on the tees.

“Although it is longer it doesn’t alter the clubs into the greens,” he said. “For instance on number four, we were hitting a hybrid or three wood to the top of the fairway and then hitting a wedge down.

“Now the tee is moved back 20, 30 yards, so now we hit a driver to the same spot. So although the course is playing longer off the tee it just forces us to hit more drivers.”

Mickelson, the champion at Baltusrol three years ago, is the justifiable favourite, but will have to overcome squandering a winning position at Akron last week where he bogeyed three of the last four holes.

Westwood also had a chance to win there and concedes he might have done had he decided to chip rather than putt from short of the 14th green when the momentum was with the Englishman.

He took three to get down and ultimately had just too much to do to deny a nervous looking Vijay Singh.

But Westwood's confidence remains as high as ever. Last week offered further proof of his credentials to build on his third placed finish at the US Open.

He now feels more at home in America, prepared to trust his short game and not feel as much pressure to hit every green in regulation.

The Worksop man also looks very relaxed this week, much more so than at Birkdale where he failed to live up to the expectation levels generated by his inspired Torrey Pines challenge.

Westwood is undoubtedly Europe’s best hope this week while so many of the continent’s stars have so much to play for as they seek to force their way into the Ryder Cup next month.

Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose, Paul Casey, Colin Montgomerie, Darren Clarke and Nick Dougherty are all in need of big performances as we head into the final stretch of qualifying tournaments.

This is the biggest of those that are left with the race closing on 31 August.

There are several big names who are desperate to have their sat-nav’s set for Valhalla and if their golfing radar is in synch they can achieve that objective this week.

And if they can rekindle the spirit of 2004 they might, at the same time, put to an end the question that has haunted European golf for 78 long years.