By Mark Lamport-Stokes
AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 5 (Reuters) - European golfers have endured a 17-year title drought at the Masters after dominating the tournament for two decades, a barren run that three-times winner Nick Faldo says can only be explained by "cycles".
The Englishman, along with Spaniards Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal and Germany's Bernhard Langer, spearheaded a formidable European wave at Augusta National that produced 11 victories in a 20-year span.
Since then, however, the continent has repeatedly fallen short at the year's opening major championship, despite frequently having former world number ones Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer and Luke Donald in title contention, among others.