British Open favorites
Updated: July 13, 2004, 4:59 PM ET
Associated Press| Twenty favorites to win the 133rd Open Championship |
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Age: 33 Country: Australia World ranking: 28 PGA Tour victories: 4 International victories: 12 Majors: None 2004 Majors: Masters-Cut. U.S. Open-T7 British Open appearances: 11 Best finish: T15 Backspin: His game is streaky, but his ball-striking is generally pure and he plays well in the wind. Talk about the next Aussie to win a major usually leads toward Adam Scott or Stuart Appleby, but this might be the one. Closed with the best round -- even-par 70 -- at Shinnecock Hills to tie for seventh.  Age: 30 Country: United States World ranking: 14 PGA Tour victories: 2 International victories: None Majors: None 2004 Majors: Masters-Cut, U.S. Open-Cut British Open appearances: 1 Best finish: T15 Backspin: Got his first taste of links golf at Royal St. George's last summer and acquitted himself nicely. A well-grounded player and supreme ball-striker, already is drawing a few comparisons with fellow Texan Ben Hogan. Raised in west Texas, so even the wind off the Irish Sea might only feel like a zephyr. Can be shaky at times with the putter.  Age: 35 Country: Northern Ireland World ranking: 15 PGA Tour victories: 2 International victories: 11 Majors: None 2004 Majors: Masters-Cut, U.S. Open-Cut British Open appearances: 13 Best finish: T2 Backspin: He has the game to win a major and mixed memories of Royal Troon. Played in the final pairing with Jesper Parnevik, but shot himself out of contention early with a tee shot that landed on the beach. Looking fit and showing flashes of winning a major, but no telling when -- or where -- he brings his game.  Age: 27 Country: United States World ranking: 41 PGA Tour victories: 1 International victories: None Majors: British Open ('03) 2004 Majors: Masters-Cut, U.S. Open-30 British Open appearances: 1 Best finish: Won Backspin: The biggest surprise in 90 years to win a major, now feels like he has to apologize for beating Thomas Bjorn, Vijay Singh, Tiger Woods, Davis Love III and a host of other stars last year in Sandwich. Should not be ruled out, plays his best in tough conditions. Swing starting to come around, and he was 30th at Shinnecock.  Age: 34 Country: South Africa World ranking: 2 PGA Tour victories: 14 International victories: 35 Majors: U.S. Open ('94, '97), British Open ('02) 2004 Majors: Masters-2, U.S. Open-T9 British Open appearances: 13 Best finish: Won Backspin: His game was lining up for a major season, but it has been nothing but frustration so far -- runner-up at the Masters, in the final group only two shots back at the U.S. Open before an 80. As long as he doesn't put too much pressure on himself, he should have an excellent chance in the major where he has consistently contended. Played his first Open at Royal Troon in 1989.  Age: 42 Country: United States World ranking: 43 PGA Tour victories: 7 International victories: 1 Majors: None 2004 Majors: Masters-T31, U.S. Open-Cut British Open appearances: 12 Best finish: 7 Backspin: Loves links golf so much that he plays other courses after his practice rounds. Missed 36-hole qualifying one year and flew home to win the B.C. Open. Length isn't a huge factor at Troon, but the greens are some of the best in the rotation, and Faxon is among the best with the short stick. A strong passion for golf, if he wins one major, this would be the most fitting.  Age: 34 Country: United States World ranking: 9 PGA Tour victories: 9 International victories: 1 Majors: U.S. Open ('03) 2004 Majors: Masters-DNP, U.S. Open-T48 British Open appearances: 8 Best finish: 4 Backspin: Made a remarkably quick recovery from wrist surgery in March to play in the U.S. Open, and turned in a typical gritty performance to tie for 48th. Played well his next time out at Western Open, so maybe he's building toward something grand. Had three straight top 10s in the British Open at one point, but missed the last three cuts.  Age: 24 Country: Spain World ranking: 10 PGA Tour victories: 5 International victories: 6 Majors: None 2004 Majors: Masters-T4, U.S. Open-T20 British Open appearances: 7 Best finish: T8 Backspin: Made debut at the British Open as a 16-year-old at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, and his recent performances point to this being his first major. He has three straight top 10s, and was in Sunday contention in all of them. Already a two-time winner on the PGA Tour this year, a sign that his swing is coming around and his confidence is higher than usual.  Age: 35 Country: South Africa World ranking: 6 PGA Tour victories: 4 International victories: 17 Majors: U.S. Open ('01, '04) 2004 Majors: Masters-T13, U.S. Open-Won British Open appearances: 9 Best finish: T8 Backspin: Hasn't seriously contended in a British Open, but comes to Troon as a player who finally got his due. Phenomenal putting performance to win the U.S. Open, now has a chance to become the first player since Tom Watson in 1982 to win the U.S. and British Opens in the same year. Last time he won a major, he went to sleep for three years before waking up. At age 35, he needs to get right back in the hunt. Good sign was winning his next start at the European Open.  Age: 32 Country: Ireland World ranking: 8 PGA Tour victories: None International victories: 9 Majors: None 2004 Majors: Masters-T13, U.S. Open-T31 British Open appearances: 8 Best finish: T5 Backspin: Remains the highest-ranked European and its best hope to win a major. Wrapped up in his game so much that he keeps an even keel, whether he's playing in Malaysia or in a major. Good iron player and a long hitter, which should help him on the inward nine at Troon. Putting sometimes holds him back.  Age: 29 Country: Sweden World ranking: 26 PGA Tour victories: None International victories: 3 Majors: None 2004 Majors: Masters-T17, U.S. Open-Cut British Open appearances: 5 Best finish: T6 Backspin: A quirky swing and wardrobe (hey, he's a Swede), but on the cusp of becoming a legitimate challenge wherever he plays. Won three times in Europe last year and has been threatening more on the PGA Tour. Had two 70s on the weekend at Royal St. George's. Best friends with Open champion Ben Curtis.  Age: 32 Country: United States World ranking: 47 PGA Tour victories: 8 International victories: None Majors: British Open ('97) 2004 Majors: Masters-T32, U.S. Open-Cut British Open appearances: 9 Best finish: Won Backspin: Making slow progress in return to form, although that includes a few good weeks, and what better chance of that at Troon. Good player in the wind, especially the inward nine, and can be among the best putters when it's his week. Has won ever year on tour since 2000, so he might be due.  Age: 40 Country: United States World ranking: 5 PGA Tour victories: 18 International victories: 2 Majors: PGA Championship ('97) 2004 Majors: Masters-T6, U.S. Open-Cut British Open appearances: 17 Best finish: T4 Backspin: Doesn't always show up for majors, evidenced by his missed cut at Shinnecock Hills. But his talent is difficult to ignore. Wants to win a British Open as badly as any major, and it would not be unlike him to win out of the blue. He was without a victory in 1997 until winning the PGA Championship at Winged Foot.  Age: 34 Country: United States World ranking: 4 PGA Tour victories: 23 International victories: None Majors: Masters ('04) 2004 Majors: Masters-Won, U.S. Open-2 British Open appearances: 11 Best finish: T11 Backspin: Now that the "best to never win a major'' title is gone, the focus will shift to another shortcoming -- the only major where he has never finished in the top 10. The tight grass has kept him from taking advantage of his awesome short game. He should have best chance yet at this Open, simply because he is playing his best golf. And he's very, very good.  Age: 41 Country: Scotland World ranking: 71 PGA Tour victories: None International victories: 33 Majors: None 2004 Majors: Masters-Cut, U.S. Open-DNP British Open appearances: 14 Best finish: T8 Backspin: Monty with a claret jug might be a greater story thanGreg Norman in a green jacket. Both seem far-fetched at this point, especially since the Scot barely qualified for the British Open, has dropped out of the top 50, shot 82 last week in Ireland and has personal distractions that include an impending divorce. Grew up at Royal Troon, where his father was the longtime club secretary. Stranger things have happened in golf.  Age: 41 Country: Fiji World ranking: 3 PGA Tour victories: 18 International victories: 22 Majors: Masters ('00), PGA Championship ('98) 2004 Majors: Masters-T6, U.S. Open-T28 British Open appearances: 15 Best finish: T2 Backspin: The major he has always wanted to win, since Europe is where his resurrection began. Surprisingly, has only two top 10s in the British Open, and let a good chance get away last year at Royal St. George's. His first Open was Royal Troon in 1989, a tie for 23rd. His game is showing signs of tapering off slightly, but he'll step it up a notch at this one.  Age: 37 Country: United States World ranking: 16 PGA Tour victories: 10 International victories: None Majors: PGA Championship ('01) 2004 Majors: Masters-Cut, U.S. Open-T20 British Open appearances: 4 Best finish: T4 Backspin: Surprisingly limited experience on the links, but he played with Tiger Woods in the final group Saturday at his first Open, at St. Andrews, and was doing fine at Muirfield until getting blown away by the wind. Recovered from wrist injury to win at Memphis, and pure putting stroke gives him a decent chance at Troon.  Age: 34 Country: Canada World ranking: 7 PGA Tour victories: 7 International victories: 2 Majors: Masters ('03) 2004 Majors: Masters-Cut, U.S. Open-T4 British Open appearances: 5 Best finish: T28 Backspin: Winning at Riviera is all that has kept his season from being a disappointment, but the little Lefty is slowly starting to turn things around. Excellent ball-striker who controls his trajectory, which is key for a links. And his short game doesn't get enough credit. At least another major in him.  Age: 31 Country: England World ranking: 67 PGA Tour victories: 1 International victories: 25 Majors: None 2004 Majors: Masters-DNP, U.S. Open-DNP British Open appearances: 9 Best finish: T10 Backspin: Once as high as No. 4 in the world, once so low everyone lost track, he is close to regaining his form and might surprise even his home crowd with a claret jug. A good driver, which never hurts, and could be a factor if he stays close to the lead going into the weekend. Had his best Open at Royal Troon. 
Tiger Woods
Age: 28 Country: United States World ranking: 1 PGA Tour victories: 40 International victories: 7 Majors: Masters ('97, '01, '02), U.S. Open ('00, '02), British Open ('00), PGA Championship ('99, '00) 2004 Majors: Masters-T22, U.S. Open-T17 British Open appearances: 9 Best finish: Won Backspin: Major attention on his 0-for-8 run in the majors, and Troon isn't the best course for him on the rotation. His game has looked close at times, and looked far, far away at others. Driving is important on this links, especially the back nine, but Troon's greens are among the best in the rotation. If nothing else, Woods has been putting well. |
Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press
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