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Posted: Thursday July 12, 2001 6:02 PM
Updated: Monday July 16, 2001 6:08 PM
2001 British Open Top Contenders
(Note: Listed in predicted order of finish, according to The Associated Press.) | | |
| Sergio Garcia
Age: 21.
| Country: Spain.
| Ranking: 7.
| Worldwide Victories: 4.
| Majors: None.
| 2001 Majors: Masters-MC, US Open-T12.
| British Open Appearances: 4.
| Best Finish: T-29.
| Last year: T-36.
| Backspin: Two reasons make him a logical choice -- Royal Lytham
has been kind to young Spaniards with flair (Seve Ballesteros), and
Tiger Woods can't win every major (only 6 of 18). Garcia won
Colonial and Westchester and was solid for three out of four rounds
at the U.S. Open. A win really fuels the fire of a Woods rivalry.
| |
| Tiger Woods
Age: 25.
| Country: United States.
| Ranking: 1.
| Worldwide Victories: 34.
| Majors (6): Masters ('97, '01), PGA ('99, '00), U.S. Open ('00), British Open ('00).
| 2001 Majors: Masters-Won, U.S. Open-T-12.
| British Open Appearances: 6.
| Best Finish: Won.
| Last year: Won.
| Backspin: One reason makes him a logical choice -- he's the
best player in the world. Lytham doesn't suit his game as well as
St. Andrews, but that rarely matters. Three straight weeks out of
the top 10 for the first time in three years, but that doesn't
matter, either. Still seems fatigued from huge buildup to his
historic Masters, and that could matter.
| |
| Phil Mickelson
Age: 31.
| Country: United States.
| Ranking: 2.
| Worldwide Victories: 20.
| Majors: None.
| 2001 Majors: Masters-3, U.S. Open-T7.
| British Open Appearances: 8.
| Best Finish: T-11.
| Last year: T-11.
| Backspin: British Open is the one major where he has never
seriously contended. Good imagination for links courses and a great
game. Has been in contention more than anyone else this year, and
it will be surprising if he doesn't have another chance Sunday.
Lefty is due to get it right in one of these majors.
| |
| Nick Price
Age: 44.
| Country: Zimbabwe.
| Ranking: 20.
| Worldwide Victories: 40.
| Majors (3): British Open ('94), PGA ('92, '94).
| 2001 Majors (3): Masters-MC, U.S. Open-MC.
| British Open Appearances: 21.
| Best Finish: Won.
| Last year: MC.
| Backspin: Hasn't won in two years and this could be his last
hurrah in a major. He's lost his magical touch with the putter, but
is striking the ball as well as he ever has and could piece enough
of his all-around game together for four days. Gave himself a good
chance in Dallas until wasting two shots at the end.
| |
| Ernie Els
Age: 31.
| Country: South Africa.
| Ranking: 3.
| Worldwide Victories: 32.
| Majors (2): U.S. Open ('94, '97).
| 2001 Majors: Masters-T6, US Open-T66.
| British Open Appearances: 10.
| Best Finish: T-2.
| Last year: T2.
| Backspin: The Big Easy has a better record in the U.S. Open,
but more consistency in the British. Runner-up last year with an
asterisk, since he was eight strokes behind and never had a chance.
Runner-up at Lytham in '96, making Tom Lehman sweat. As long as he
finds his focus -- not to mention his desire - he could claim his
third major.
| |
| Tom Lehman
Age: 42.
| Country: United States.
| Ranking: 14.
| Worldwide Victories: 7.
| Majors (1): British Open ('96).
| 2001 Majors: Masters-T18, US Open-T24.
| British Open Appearances: 7.
| Best Finish: Won.
| Last year: T4.
| Backspin: Winless so far in 2001, which makes him due for a
good week, especially at Lytham. He set a British Open record for
54 holes in 1996 with rounds of 67-67-64. Always a strong
ball-striker, and needs a big week to compensate for putting that
can be streaky.
| |
| David Duval
Age: 29.
| Country: United States.
| Ranking: 6.
| Worldwide Victories: 12.
| Majors: None.
| 2001 Majors: Masters-2, U.S. Open-T16.
| British Open Appearances: 6.
| Best Finish: T-11.
| Last year: T-11.
| Backspin: The least favorite of his majors, but he'll take any
of them at this point. Lacks imagination around the green, but was
solid last year in giving Woods a brief scare at St. Andrews. No
such thing as a Road Hole bunker at Lytham, which should help. A
strange year for Duval -- no wins, and usually only in contention at
the majors.
| |
| Lee Westwood
Age: 28.
| Country: England.
| Ranking: 8.
| Worldwide Victories: 24.
| Majors: None.
| 2001 Majors: Masters-DNP, U.S. Open-MC.
| British Open Appearances: 6.
| Best Finish: T-10.
| Last year: T-64.
| Backspin: The last Englishman to win a British Open in England
was Tony Jacklin at Lytham in 1969. Has started slowly this year,
and skipped the Masters when his wife gave birth to their first
child. Doesn't get enough credit in America for 24 global
victories.
| |
| Jesper Parnevik
Country: Sweden.
| Ranking: 21.
| Ranking: 21.
| Worldwide Victories: 14.
| Majors: None.
| 2001 Majors: Masters-T20, US Open-T30.
| British Open Appearances: 8.
| Best Finish: T-2.
| Last year: T-36.
| Backspin: The zany Swede has four top-10s in the British Open,
only two in the other three majors combined. An excellent iron
player with a knack for getting the ball in the hole any way
possible around the green. Won in Honda this year when the wind was
howling.
| |
| Colin Montgomerie
Age: 38.
| Country: Scotland.
| Ranking: 9.
| Worldwide Victories: 30.
| Majors: None.
| 2001 Majors: Masters-MC, U.S. Open-T52.
| British Open Appearances: 11.
| Best Finish: T-8.
| Last year: T-26.
| Backspin: Revived after winning the Irish Open, his first
wire-to-wire victory on the European tour. Would have been better
off keeping his Euro slump alive coming into the Open, because all
eyes will be on the Scot -- and he hasn't handled the pressure of
winning a major before the home crowd very well in the past.
| |
| Vijay Singh
Age: 38.
| Country: Fiji.
| Ranking: 4.
| Worldwide Victories: 30.
| Majors (2): PGA ('98), Masters ('00).
| 2001 Majors (2): Masters-T18, U.S. Open-T7.
| British Open Appearances: 12.
| Best Finish: T-6.
| Last year: T-11.
| Backspin: A victory at Lytham puts him one leg away from the
career Grand Slam, and it could happen. Improved his putting (at
least on paper) and always a great ball-striker. Of those who
haven't won this year on the PGA Tour, none has played better. He's
due.
| |
| Retief Goosen
Age: 32.
| Country: South Africa.
| Ranking: 27.
| PGA Tour Victories: 12.
| Majors (1): U.S. Open ('01).
| 2001 Majors: Masters-MC, U.S. Open-Won.
| British Open Appearances: 6.
| Best Finish: T-10.
| Last year: T-41.
| Backspin: One of the great comeback stories in a major -- even
though he had at least a share of the lead after every round of the
U.S. Open. No one can question his mental fortitude after
recovering from that three-putt on the 72nd hole. No one should
question the ability that got him there in the first place. Does
lightning strike twice?
| |
| Davis Love III
Age: 37.
| Country: United States.
| Ranking: 5.
| Worldwide Victories: 16.
| Majors (1): PGA ('97).
| 2001 Majors: Masters-MC, U.S. Open-T-7.
| British Open Appearances: 14.
| Best Finish: 8.
| Last year: T-11.
| Backspin: Has always enjoyed playing this major, but has never
done particularly well. Finally ended 0-for-62 slump on the PGA
Tour by winning at Pebble, but still not the best closer. Back and
neck problems make it unclear which Love will show up. If he's
healthy, he should be a contender.
| |
| Darren Clarke
Age: 32.
| Country: Northern Ireland.
| Ranking: 10.
| Worldwide Victories: 10.
| Majors: None.
| 2001 Majors: Masters-T24, U.S. Open-T30.
| British Open Appearances: 10.
| Best Finish: T-2.
| Last year: T-7.
| Backspin: The hottest European tour player coming into the
Open, with a great weekend in the Irish Open and a strong finish to
win the European Open last week. The greater the pressure, the
better he seems to play.
| |
| Padraig Harrington
Age: 29.
| Country: Northern Ireland.
| Ranking: 16.
| Worldwide Victories: 4.
| Majors: None.
| 2001 Majors: Masters-T27, U.S. Open-T30.
| British Open Appearances: 5.
| Best Finish: T-5.
| Last year: T-20.
| Backspin: Quietly becoming one of Europe's strongest and most
steady players. Tied for 18th at Lytham in his first Open. Very
good short game, capable of extracting himself from delicate
situations.
| |
| Mark Brooks
Age: 40.
| Country: United States.
| Ranking: 92.
| Worldwide Victories: 7.
| Majors: PGA ('96).
| 2001 Majors: Masters-T31, U.S. Open-2.
| British Open Appearances: 9.
| Best Finish: T-3.
| Last year: MC.
| Backspin: His game honed in the Texas wind, Brooks loves the
British Open and is generally a factor when he's on his game. He's
having his best season since 1996, when his three wins included the
PGA Championship. Runner-up finish at Southern Hills puts him in a
good frame of mind for Lytham.
| |
| Justin Leonard
Age: 29.
| Country: United States.
| Ranking: 29.
| Worldwide Victories: 5.
| Majors (1): British Open ('97).
| 2001 Majors: Masters-T27, U.S. Open-MC.
| British Open Appearances: 7.
| Best Finish: Won.
| Last year: T-41.
| Backspin: Made serious changes in his swing to start the year,
and they are starting to pay off. Missing the cut at the U.S. Open
was a setback, but he plays well in the wind and manages his game
beautifully. If his putter is on, keep an eye on him.
| |
| Nick Faldo
Age: 44.
| Country: England.
| Ranking: 82.
| Worldwide Victories: 40.
| Majors (6): Masters ('89, '90, '96), British Open ('87, '90, '92).
| British Open Appearances: 25.
| Best Finish: Won.
| Last year: T-41.
| Backspin: Lytham was the last hurrah for Faldo in the majors.
He missed four birdie putts inside 7 feet early on, faded to fourth
-- and hasn't come close since. He's playing better, is back with
caddie Fanny Sunesson. Wouldn't be surprising if he put his best
four rounds of the year together in one week.
| |
| Scott Hoch
Age: 45.
| Country: United States.
| Ranking: 19.
| PGA Tour Victories: 16.
| Majors: None.
| 2001 Majors: Masters-T37, U.S. Open-T16.
| British Open Appearances: 3.
| Best Finish: T-68.
| Last year: DNP.
| Backspin: Doesn't like the cold. Doesn't like the rain. When
it comes to the British Open, the only other thing he really
doesn't like is St. Andrews. Hoch figures it will be warmer in
England and has been told Lytham suits his game. He wouldn't know
since he has never been there. A sentimental favorite.
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