The Open Championship 2001

Woods has failed to finish in the top 10 of a PGA Tour event three starts in a row. That may not sound like a big deal, but think about the fact that the last time he didn't crack the top 10 that many weeks in a row was 1998.

Another concern for the top-ranked player in the world is that for the first time since the 1999 Masters, Woods never posed a threat in a major championship. At the U.S. Open at Southern Hills, he finished tied for 11th, seven shots from the playoff.

During his stretch of "bad" play, Woods has looked tired and sometimes disinterested in winning. He has looked like he was out there to fulfill obligations, not add titles. At the Western Open, Woods finished 20th and spent the majority of his time defending his game rather than displaying it.

But Woods has spent the last week preparing for the British Open in Ireland. He is the defending champion and remember, he became the youngest player ever to complete the modern Grand Slam with his blowout win at St. Andrews last year.

So if Woods is in this "funk" how can he break out of it? One thing that helps is the fact that this is a major championship. Woods' level of play and mental toughness are superior to all during a major week. He has no flaws in his game and when he gets a lead, he is almost impossible to catch.

Woods has won six of 18 majors he has competed in as a professional. He has established 72-hole scoring records in all four and owns the widest margins of victory in all but the PGA Championship. Last year, he won three majors in a season, joining Ben Hogan as the only players in the history of the sport to do so.

So we know he can play in majors, but another factor on Woods' side is that he has the game to excel in British Opens. If the wind kicks up, Woods will hit that stinger two-iron that barely gets waist high. His length will allow him to possibly drive some greens that are barely distinguishable from the fairways. If it's perfect conditions, then history could be made because Royal Lytham & St. Annes measures only 6,892 yards and if he can stay out of the multitude of bunkers, the course really is open for the taking.

The last time Royal Lytham & St. Annes hosted a British Open was 1996 when Woods played his final major as an amateur. He overcame an opening-round 75 with a sensational 66 on Friday and finished tied for 22nd at three-under 281, his best finish in a major as an amateur.

Chances are Woods will be right there if he shows up at the course, but lately he has been proven beatable. Perhaps no player has a better chance of upstaging Tiger than his young colleague Sergio Garcia.

Garcia, no longer El Nino, has enjoyed a breakthrough on tour this season. He broke into the winner's circle for the first time at the Colonial and held off all comers last month at the Buick Classic.

The young Spaniard seems to be the only other player in the game who hits that low two-iron off the tee and he has the imagination and skill to succeed in a British Open.

Fate may be on the side of Garcia as well. Prior to the 1996 edition, the last winner at Royal Lytham was a brash Spaniard named Seve Ballesteros. Garcia is ready to win what should be the first of several major championships.

Every time a major championship rolls around, Phil Mickelson and David Duval probably get excited at the prospect of dropping the "best player to have never won a major" tag. Unfortunately, Sundays of major weekends have not been kind to this pair. Both were in contention at the Masters and the U.S. Open this year, but both walked away facing more questions.

The biggest disappointment for this duo is their failure to capitalize at the U.S. Open without Woods looming. Each player has lost a major to Woods and when he was nowhere in sight last month, neither gentleman stepped up.

Duval played with Woods in the final group on Sunday last year and cut Woods' lead to three at the turn. Woods turned it up and extended the lead and when Duval made a mess of the Road Bunker at 17, it was just another missed opportunity.

Mickelson's tie for 11th last year was his highest finish ever in a British Open. He has faltered so much down the stretch this season with questionable, aggressive plays that I think Mickelson will have to wait for a return to the U.S. for a major victory.

Retief Goosen was the surprise winner of last month's U.S. Open at Southern Hills. Prior to that major, Goosen was a solid European Tour veteran who won almost every year on tour. Now he is a major contender for the British Open after winning last week's warm-up at Loch Lomond with one of the best fields of the year assembled.

Americans have won five of the last six British Opens, including Tom Lehman in 1996 at Royal Lytham. He played well at Loch Lomond last week and will surely be a factor this week as well.

Justin Leonard's name went on the Claret Jug in 1997 and he probably should have won the carnival-ending in 1999. He will always be a factor here because he knows how to play in the wind and his low ball flight will make him a contender this week.

Among other notable Americans who could make noise this week: Jim Furyk, who has three top-10s in the last four years, Davis Love III, whose four best finishes in British Opens came in the last four years, and Scott Hoch, a two-time winner this season who can contend if he can curb his outward disdain for links golf courses.

European players have not enjoyed recent success at their Open Championship. Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke both have won in the last month, but Lee Westwood is in the middle of a serious slump. Either of the three have the talent to win this tournament, but only Clarke has a top-five finish when he tied for second in 1997.

Ernie Els tied for second last year and in 1996. That year, he landed in fairway bunkers down the stretch which gave Lehman the win. Els has missed the last several weeks with back problems, but is expected to return this week. If he is healthy, Els can be in position for his third major title.

Vijay Singh has played very well all season and has made quite a bit of money. If he gets the short stick (actually for him it's a long stick that jabs into his belly) rolling, he will compete.

Last year, Woods missed all 112 bunkers at St. Andrews. At Royal Lytham & St. Annes, there are 107 on the back nine alone. There are 189 in total, including 20 on the 17th hole. Whomever can avoid the sand the best, probably will walk away with the Claret Jug.

Look for Woods to become the first back-to-back winner since Watson in 1982-83. His game is suited for the course and when he puts his mind to dominating, that's normally what happens.

Earlier this year, there was talk of a Woods slump because he had not won yet. He responded with wins at BayHill, The Players Championship and the Masters. Starting at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, look for a new roll to begin.

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page