Troon, Scotland ? It’s easy to make fun of the pampered Americans.

They get their fancy courtesy cars — a Mercedes one week, a Cadillac the next, a Buick at worst — and play for $5 million purses on courses that are manicured to perfection. But ask them to fly overseas, whether it’s a World Golf Championship or the oldest championship in golf, and it becomes an imposition.

Stuart Appleby of Australia summed up it best a few years ago when a dozen Americans declined to take a chartered plane to Valderrama to play in a tournament that guaranteed $25,000 for last place.

“They’re like a bag of prawns on a hot Sunday,” he said. “They don’t travel well.”

The outrage at Royal Troon is not just the number of no-shows — Fred Funk, of all people, topping the list — but how the Royal & Ancient Golf Club made it easier than ever for Americans to qualify for the British Open and still they turned their noses up at the benevolence.

For the first time, the R&A expanded its 36-hole qualifying from four links courses near the Open to include four courses around the world, giving tour players a chance to qualify without having to travel to Britain.

And how did they show their gratitude?

Fifty-two PGA Tour players didn’t bother to show up for the U.S. qualifier at Congressional two weeks ago. Worse yet, six players didn’t even call to say they weren’t coming. None seemed the least bit bothered by turning down a chance to play in the British Open.

“Well, we are close to Iraq,” Colin Montgomerie said, not missing a chance to tweak the Americans.

The real jab came from Marcus Fraser, a European tour player from Australia who lost his chance to qualify in Malaysia because of a shoulder injury that kept him from traveling. He petitioned the R&A to play in the European qualifier when he was healthy, and was turned down.

So, Marcus, did you hear about the 52 Americans who got injured at Congressional?

“Sudden injury,” Fraser mused. “Heart muscle, wasn’t it?”

No, just poor etiquette, brought on by a sudden case of brain cramps.

“They made it easy for those guys, and it’s a real slap in the face,” Tom Weiskopf said.

Even some players eligible for the British Open are not here.

Kirk Triplett said it was his favorite tournament to watch on TV. Funk gave no reason for withdrawing, although one can only suspect that after his whining about links golf last year, he figures it will be easier to collect Ryder Cup points at the B.C. Open this week.

“This is the greatest tournament in the world,” Mark Calcavecchia said. “If you’re exempt, you should take a rowboat if you have to.”

Funk said he would row a boat to South Africa for a chance to play in the Presidents Cup, but he won’t take an eight-hour flight to Scotland for the British Open?