10 Who Could Go All The Way

WORLD RANK: 1st WORLDWIDE WINS: 57

The only thing I heard Tiger say that mattered about missing the cut at the U.S. Open was that it might've been too soon after his father's death. Well, he had to come back at some point, but he picked the most penalizing tournament of the year to do it and paid the price. Clearly he was in a funk at Winged Foot and knew he didn't have it. He'll be way more prepared for the British, where he usually at least contends. He has one of the world's best short games and lives to play a variety of different and challenging shots, so in that sense he's much better suited to British Open conditions than, say, Mickelson. Tiger's putting stroke isn't geared to popping putts on slow greens, but he's a player. He'll adjust.

ROYAL TEE: I'm not sure Tiger is ready to win again, but if he can avoid hitting wild foul balls beyond Royal Liverpool's many out-of-bounds stakes, he can.

2 DAVID HOWELL

WORLD RANK: 10th WORLDWIDE WINS: 5

He's the highest ranked player in the world nobody in the U.S. has heard of ... but they will. I haven't played with David or seen him play in person, and it's only 50-50 that I could pick him out of a lineup, but I know he's leading the European money list, and if he isn't the best Euro right now, he's definitely the Euro who's playing the best right now. He doesn't have many weaknesses. David is known for being a terrific putter and for being pretty straight off the tee. Plus, like Curtis Strange in his prime, he knows he's not going to miss any shots left. That's big. He plays a smart, controlled game and had kind of a backdoor 16th at the U.S. Open, which nobody noticed.

ROYAL TEE: The Open needs a European winner, I think, and this guy is England's best hope.

And the winner is...
RETIEF GOOSEN

1 WORLD RANK: 4th WORLDWIDE WINS: 25

In case you haven't noticed, short hitters don't win majors anymore. What I like about Goose is that he has the power that major champions must have, plus he drives it plenty straight. He also has the perfect putting stroke for the slower British greens--a short, crisp stroke with a solid left wrist that puts overspin on the ball, which helps his putts hold the line. I don't know why he doesn't win more often, unless he's geared toward the majors and doesn't get up for other events. I can't get inside his head because he's not Chatty Cathy, which is why he can go unnoticed despite finishing second at the Players and third at the Masters this year. He's rarely far from winning, especially in the majors.

ROYAL TEE: With four straight top 10 finishes in the Open, Retief has done everything except win one. I hope he can at least try to act excited while brandishing the claret jug at Royal Liverpool.