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| Tiger Woods
Age: 24
| Ranking: 1
| Worldwide Victories: 24
| Majors: Masters ('97), PGA ('99), U.S. Open ('00).
| 2000 majors record: Masters-5, U.S. Open-Won.
| British Open Appearances: 5
| Best Finish: T3
| St. Andrews Opens: 1995-T68 (amateur).
| Backspin: After perhaps the most dominant performance in sports, a record 15-stroke victory in the U.S. Open, the consensus seems to be not whether Woods will win, but by how many. Can become only the fifth player - and youngest - to complete the career Grand Slam. A victory would also make him the first since Jack Nicklaus in 1972 to be reigning champion of three majors.
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| Ernie Els
Age: 30
| Ranking: 5
| Worldwide Victories: 29
| Majors: U.S. Open ('94, '97).
| 2000 majors record: Masters-2, US Open-T2.
| British Open Appearances: 9
| Best Finish: T2.
| St. Andrews Opens: 1995-T11.
| Backspin: Going for the runner-up Grand Slam - already second in the Masters and second in the U.S. Open, albeit by 15 strokes. Has finished runner-up to Woods three times this year. Loves links golf, steady in the wind. Just might find the focus to conquer Woods.
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| Darren Clarke
Age: 31
| Ranking: 12
| Worldwide Victories: 8
| Majors: None.
| 2000 majors record: Masters-T40, US Open-T53.
| British Open Appearances: 9
| Best Finish: T2.
| St. Andrews Opens: 1995-T30.
| Backspin: Grew up on a links course and played well enough to win at Royal Troon in '97. Long enough to be a favorite at St. Andrews, and proved in the Match Play Championship he is not one to be intimidated.
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| David Duval
Age: 28
| Ranking: 2
| Worldwide Victories: 11
| Majors: None.
| 2000 majors record: Masters-T3, US Open-T8.
| British Open Appearances: 5
| Best Finish: T11
| St. Andrews Opens: 1995-T20.
| Backspin: No indication he's ready to win this year, but his talent remains unquestioned. Hits the ball long, and the direction that has got him in trouble this year - left - could actually bail him out at St. Andrews.
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| Vijay Singh
Age: 37
| Ranking: 10.
| Worldwide Victories: 27
| Majors: PGA ('98), Masters ('00).
| 2000 majors record: Masters-Won, US Open-T8.
| British Open Appearances: 11.
| Best Finish: T6
| St. Andrews Opens: 1990-T12, 1995-T6.
| Backspin: Hard to figure a guy who wins the Masters and changes putters by the time the next major rolls around. Great ball-striker with good experience at St. Andrews - a T12 in 1990, and a T6 in 1995.
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| Davis Love III
Age: 36.
| Ranking: 6.
| Worldwide Victories: 15.
| Majors: PGA ('97).
| 2000 majors record: Masters-T7, US Open-MC.
| British Open Appearances: 13.
| Best Finish: T7.
| St. Andrews Opens: 1990-MC, 1995-T98.
| Backspin: Has finished in the top 10 the last three British Opens. Has not won in over two years. Perhaps something will give at St. Andrews, where his length will be an advantage.
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| Phil Mickelson
Age: 30.
| Ranking: 7.
| Worldwide Victories: 17.
| Majors: None.
| 2000 majors record: Masters-T7, US Open-T16.
| British Open Appearances: 7.
| Best Finish: T24.
| St. Andrews Opens: 1995-T39.
| Backspin: For someone with his imagination, this is one major where he has never come close. The only other lefty to win a major was Bob Charles in the '63 British Open. A three-time winner this year, but still the best player without a major.
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| Sergio Garcia
Age: 20
| Ranking: 14
| Worldwide Victories: 2
| Majors: None.
| 2000 majors record: Masters-T40, US Open-T46.
| British Open Appearances: 3
| Best Finish: T29
| St. Andrews Opens: None.
| Backspin: From a marketing standpoint, this is last chance to make the 'Battle of Bighorn' made-for-TV event against Woods something worth watching. From a personal standpoint, would like to shake off that 89-83 performance last year at Carnoustie.
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| Jesper Parnevik
Age: 35
| Ranking: 10
| Worldwide Victories: 9
| Majors: None.
| 2000 majors record: Masters-T40, US Open-MC.
| British Open Appearances: 7
| Best Finish: 2
| St. Andrews Opens: 1995-T24.
| Backspin: Old Tom Morris would never be caught wearing pink. Clothing not the issue for the zany Swede, who is trying to overcome a hip injury. If he's healthy, he should be a factor because of his wonderful creativity - on the course, as well as in fashion.
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| Nick Faldo
Age: 43
| Ranking: 129
| Worldwide Victories: 39
| Majors: British Open ('87, '90, '92), Masters ('89, '90, '96).
| 2000 majors record: Masters-T28, US Open-7.
| British Open Appearances: 24
| Best Finish: Won.
| St. Andrews Opens: None.
| Backspin: On the silver anniversary of his first British Open, the three-time champion has shown glimpses that he could be a contender again. Won at St. Andrews in 1990 at 18-under 270, the lowest score in relation to par in Open history. Would help if the wind howled.
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| Miguel Angel Jimenez
Age: 36
| Ranking: 16
| Worldwide Victories: 8
| Majors: None.
| 2000 majors record: Masters-T49, US Open-T2.
| British Open Appearances: 8
| Best Finish: T50.
| St. Andrews Opens: 1995-T85.
| Backspin: Hasn't made a cut in the British Open since '95 at St. Andrews, when he tied for 85th, but is vastly improved. One of Europe's best players in the Ryder Cup, nearly beat Woods at Valderrama and tied Els for second in the U.S. Open.
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| Justin Leonard
Age: 27
| Ranking: 21
| Worldwide Victories: 4
| Majors: British Open ('97).
| 2000 majors record: Masters-T28, US Open-T16.
| British Open Appearances: 6
| Best Finish: Won.
| St. Andrews Opens: 1995-T56.
| Backspin: Length is an issue, but that hasn't stopped him before. Lost a chance to win last year at Carnoustie when he hit into Barry Burn on the 18th, in regulation and in the playoff. Hasn't won since the '98 Players Championship, but slowly emerging.
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| Hal Sutton
Age: 42
| Ranking: 8
| Worldwide Victories: 13
| Majors: PGA ('83).
| 2000 majors record: Masters-10, US Open-T23.
| British Open Appearances: 7
| Best Finish: 10
| St. Andrews Opens: 1984-MC.
| Backspin: When he went to the 'bleakest, blackest spot you can think of' during his slump, that apparently wasn't in Britain. Returned from a 10-year absence last year and tied for 10th. The only American who has whipped Woods head-to-head.
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| Lee Westwood
Age: 27
| Ranking: 4
| Worldwide Victories: 20
| Majors: None.
| 2000 majors record: Masters-MC, US Open-T5.
| British Open Appearances: 5
| Best Finish: 10
| St. Andrews Opens: 1995-T93.
| Backspin: Has won three times since fearing burnout, including a rally to beat Woods in Germany. Would be better off if the Open were somewhere other than St. Andrews, a course he disdains.
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| Colin Montgomerie
Age: 37
| Ranking: 3
| Worldwide Victories: 29
| Majors: None.
| 2000 majors record: Masters-T19, US Open-T46.
| British Open Appearances: 10
| Best Finish: T8
| St. Andrews Opens: 1990-T48, 1995-MC.
| Backspin: For winning a record seven consecutive money titles in Europe, he can't seem to contend in his home major. St. Andrews would be the perfect place for him to finally break through, instead of breaking down.
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| Tom Lehman
Age: 41
| Ranking: 15
| Worldwide Victories: 7
| Majors: British Open ('96).
| 2000 majors record: Masters-6, US Open-T23.
| British Open Appearances: 6
| Best Finish: Won
| St. Andrews Opens: None.
| Backspin: Has missed the cut in his last two Opens and never been a factor since winning at Royal Lytham. St. Andrews is somewhat similar - long and wide - and Lehman is better than he has been. Would really stoke his fire to be paired with Mark James.
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| Jim Furyk
Age: 30
| Ranking: 13
| Worldwide Victories: 6
| Majors: None.
| 2000 majors record: Masters-T14, US Open-T60.
| British Open Appearances: 4
| Best Finish: 4
| St. Andrews Opens: None.
| Backspin: This might be the next player to win his first major. Three straight Open finishes in the top 10, good ball flight and very composed. Will be his first Open at St. Andrews.
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| Jose Maria Olazabal
Age: 34
| Ranking: 51
| Worldwide Victories: 24
| Majors: Masters ('94, '99).
| 2000 majors record: Masters-MC, US Open-T12.
| British Open Appearances: 15.
| Best Finish: 3.
| St. Andrews Opens: 1984-MC (amateur), 1990-T16, 1995-T30.
| Backspin: Accuracy off the tee shouldn't be a problem, but length might be. Not a great track record in the Open, but was 4-1 in the Dunhill Cup last year and is among the best at finding a way to get the ball in the hole.
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| Michael Campbell
Age: 31
| Ranking: 32
| Worldwide Victories: 5
| Majors: None.
| 2000 majors record: Masters-DNP, US Open-T12.
| British Open Appearances: 5
| Best Finish: T3
| St. Andrews Opens: 1995-T3.
| Backspin: Won four times during a torrid stretch late last season and early part of this year. Third-round leader at St. Andrews in '95 - who can forget his amazing shot out of the Road Hole bunker - and wound up in a tie for third.
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| John Daly
Age: 34
| Ranking: Off the Charts
| Worldwide Victories: 6
| Majors: PGA ('91), British Open ('95).
| 2000 majors record: Masters-MC, US Open-WD.
| British Open Appearances: 6
| Best Finish: Won.
| St. Andrews Opens: Masters-MC, US Open-WD.
| Backspin: Will probably see more pubs than in '95, when he won while sober. As with anything involving Daly, who knows? He remains the longest hitter in golf, which will help enormously, but tends to have a meltdown when the breaks go against him.
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