Leading contenders for the British Open

Best player in the world since Jack Nicklaus but arrives at Hoylake after playing just two tournaments since the Masters in April. Missed the cut at last month's U.S. Open, his first early exit in a major as a professional, and tied for second at the Western Open on Sunday. Took a nine-week break after the Masters, his father Earl having died on May 3 following a long battle with cancer.

Has spent much of the last three years revamping his swing for the second time since turning professional in 1996, culminating in victories last season at the Masters and the British Open, his ninth and 10th in the majors. Has won three times this year in 10 starts worldwide and tied for third at the Masters. Over the last 18 months, has been close to regaining the dominance he enjoyed in 1999 and 2000.

Claimed his first U.S. Open crown at Pebble Beach in 2000 by a record 15 shots and clinched his second at Bethpage Black in 2002 to lift his career haul of majors to eight. Now lies third in the all-time listings, behind fellow Americans Nicklaus (18) and Walter Hagen (11).

Was the youngest player, aged 21, to win the Masters in 1997 with a record 12-stroke victory and became the first person to hold all four majors at the same time with his two-shot triumph over David Duval at the 2001 Masters. Romped to victory by eight shots in the 2000 British Open at St Andrews and by five at the same venue last year.

Phil Mickelson (U.S.), 36

World ranking: 2

Number of British Opens: 13

Best British Open finish: third at Royal Troon in 2004

Will start as one of the title favourites at Hoylake, despite blowing a golden opportunity to win last month's U.S. Open at Winged Foot with an erratic drive and a double-bogey six at the final hole. Probably prepares for the majors more meticulously than anyone else, and flew across to Hoylake late last month to map out a game plan for the course.

Concedes his British Open record is not to his liking but has won twice in his last three majors starts, the PGA Championship in August and the Masters in April. Secured his second career major in the weather-hit PGA at Baltusrol, triumphing by a shot, and eased to his second green jacket at Augusta National by two strokes with a confident 69 in the final round.

Ended a 12-year wait for his first major title with a dramatic one-shot victory over Ernie Els at the 2004 Masters. Holed an 18-foot birdie putt at the final hole to complete a blistering back nine of five-under-par 31, he and Els having produced an epic battle of shot-making. Since then, has been a consistent threat in the majors.

Has won twice this season, romping home by 13 shots in the BellSouth Classic the week before his Masters triumph. At both tournaments, he carried two drivers in his bag. Although the British Open has been the least likely major for him to win because of his high ball flight, he has become more comfortable with the bump-and-run game required. Finished a stroke outside the playoff for the 2004 title at Royal Troon, won by fellow American Todd Hamilton.

Vijay Singh (Fiji), 43

World ranking: 3

Number of British Opens: 17

Best British Open finish: tied for second at Royal St George's in 2003

Not quite at his best after being the hottest player in the game for a two-year spell starting in mid-2003, winning 17 times on the PGA Tour and piling up record earnings of $10,905,166 in the U.S. last season. Ended Woods's five-year reign as world number one in September 2004 and has since enjoyed two more spells at the top of the official rankings.

Ended a rare victory drought of more than 10 months with a two-stroke triumph at the Barclays Classic last month. Tied for sixth at the U.S. Open and shared fourth place at the Western Open on Sunday in his last two starts. Should arrive at Hoylake in high spirits after regaining confidence off the tee, his Achilles heel earlier in the year.

A Fijian of Indian descent whose name means 'victory' in Hindi, Singh is known for his work ethic. Won his first major title in the 1998 PGA Championship at Sahalee and his second at the 2000 Masters. Clinched his third major in a three-way playoff for the 2004 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

Has produced just three top-10 finishes in 17 attempts at the British Open, but two of those have come in his last three starts. Was in a good position to win at Royal St George's in 2003 when tied for the lead with 10 holes to play before slipping back into a tie for second place. Finished joint fifth at St Andrews last year.

Retief Goosen (South Africa), 37

World ranking: 4

Number of British Opens: 11

Best British Open finish: tied for fifth at St Andrews in 2005

Made his major breakthrough in 2001 with a playoff triumph in the U.S. Open at Southern Hills after nearly squandering his victory chance when he three-putted the 72nd green. Won his second U.S. Open crown at Shinnecock Hills in 2004, holding off Mickelson by two shots in brutal last-day conditions on a sun-baked layout.

Has become an excellent performer in majors played on difficult courses and is almost certain to be a factor at windy Hoylake after posting his best British Open finish at St Andrews last year, a tie for fifth. Quietly spoken, he is widely viewed by his peers as the forgotten fifth member of the so-called "Big Four" -- Woods, Singh, Ernie Els and Mickelson -- although his world ranking is fourth best.

Improved results since 2000 owe much to his work with Belgian sports psychologist Jos Vanstiphout. The pair no longer work together but Goosen has become a proven front-runner with an ice-cool temperament and one of the smoothest swings in the game.

Although yet to win this year, he finished second at the Players Championship in March, tied for third at the Masters in April, and has produced two other top-five finishes on the 2006 PGA Tour. Surprisingly missed the cut in last month's U.S. Open at Winged Foot.

Jim Furyk (U.S.), 36

World ranking: 5

Number of British Opens: 10

Best British Open finish: fourth at Royal Troon in 1997

Claimed his first major title at the 2003 U.S. Open, holding off a brave challenge from playing partner Stephen Leaney of Australia. His closing two-over-par 72 gave him a three-stroke victory as he tied the tournament record at eight-under 272.

One of the straightest hitters in the game, he has always looked a good British Open bet. Tied for 44th on his tournament debut in 1996, placed fourth at Royal Troon the following year and shared fourth at Royal Birkdale in 1998. Has missed the cut in his last five Open starts, however.

Has flourished on the 2006 PGA Tour, winning his 11th career title at the Wachovia Championship in May, tying for second at last month's U.S. Open and producing five other top-10 finishes. Lies third in the money list with earnings of $3,784,126. Despite his unorthodox swing, he is one of golf's most consistent performers.

Experienced a frustrating 2004, being sidelined from late January until mid-June with a wrist injury that needed surgery. Ended that season without a win for the first time since 1997. Last year, though, he was back to his best. Won the Western Open and ended the season fourth in the money list with 10 top-10 finishes.

Adam Scott (Australia), 25

World ranking: 6

Number of British Opens: 6

Best British Open finish: tied for 34th at St Andrews in 2005

Tipped by many as a future world number one, he clinched the biggest title of his career at the 2004 Players Championship, an event widely regarded as the unofficial fifth major. Has since established himself as a top-10 player. Despite missing the cut three times in his first four British Opens it would be a surprise if he failed to shine at Hoylake.

Initially produced erratic form on the 2006 PGA Tour with a second place at the Nissan Open, a missed cut at the Bay Hill Invitational four weeks later and an erratic Players Championship in March, where he shot 70, 67, 82 and 76. Tied for 27th at the Masters but has been in sparkling form since with four top-four finishes in his last six starts.

Was ranked the world's number two amateur before turning professional in 2000. Secured his European card for 2001 by tying for sixth at the German Masters on his eighth professional start. Has won five European Tour titles, most recently last year's Johnnie Walker Classic.

Claimed his maiden PGA Tour title at the 2003 Deutsche Bank Championship and followed up with 2004 wins at the Players and the Booz Allen Classic. Also earned an unofficial victory at last year's Nissan Open, which was rain-shortened to 36 holes. Coached initially by his father Phil, he is now guided by Butch Harmon, who previously advised world number one Woods on his swing.

Geoff Ogilvy (Australia), 29

World ranking: 7

Number of British Opens: 3

Best British Open finish: tied for fifth at St Andrews in 2005

Long regarded as a high-quality player by his peers, he has firmly established himself in the top tier this season. Pulled off a surprise victory in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in February, beating American Davis Love III 3&2 in the final, and won his first major title by a stroke in last month's U.S. Open at Winged Foot after benefiting from late collapses by Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie.

The first Australian to land a major since Steve Elkington at the 1995 PGA Championship, Ogilvy has posted four top-10 finishes on the 2006 PGA Tour and lies second behind Mickelson in the money list with earnings of $3,919,394.

A professed lover of links course golf, he missed the cut in his first two British Open appearances before tying for fifth at St Andrews last year, his first top-10 in a major. He relishes the shot-making required on the humps and bumps and in the varied weather of Open championships and is likely to acquit himself well at Hoylake.

Turned professional in 1998 and earned playing privileges on both the European and Australasian tours at the first attempt. Tied for third at the 2001 Tucson Open on his PGA Tour debut and won his maiden title at last year's Tucson Classic, beating Mark Calcavecchia and Kevin Na in a sudden-death playoff.

Ernie Els (South Africa), 36

World ranking: 8

Number of British Opens: 15

Best British Open finish: won at Muirfield in 2002

Has been a consistently good British Open performer since tying for fifth at Muirfield in 1992, his first professional start in the event. Produced five more top-10 finishes before his popular triumph at Muirfield four years ago, when he clinched his third major title in a four-way playoff. Lost to American Todd Hamilton in a playoff for the 2004 title at Royal Troon.

Was sidelined for four months at the end of last season after twisting his knee on a family sailing holiday and has not yet managed to hit top form this year. Yet to win a title in 2006, with his closest calls on the PGA Tour ties for seventh at the Doral Championship in March and also at the Heritage Classic the following month. Putting has been his main problem.

Was the form player in the 2004 majors after being edged out by Mickelson at the final hole of the Masters, tying for ninth in the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, despite closing with a 10-over-par 80 in treacherous conditions on a sun-baked course, and sharing fourth place at the PGA Championship.

Possesses one of the smoothest swings in golf and is also one of the longest hitters. His 2002 British Open victory finally convinced him he has the game and mind to deal with the last-day pressures down the stretch. Has taken the last two weeks off in a bid to hone his game for the Open, and visited Hoylake twice in 10 days to learn the nuances of the course.

Sergio Garcia (Spain), 26

World ranking: 9

Number of British Opens: 9

Best British Open finish: tied for fifth at St Andrews in 2005

Probably the most precocious talent in the modern game, he burst on to the world scene by finishing runner-up to Woods in the 1999 PGA Championship at Medinah, closing with a 71 that featured a stunning second shot at the 16th hole.

Has not yet realised his full potential at the highest level of the game, however, and struggled for much of 2003 after making swing changes at the end of the previous year. The work seemed to pay off in 2004 when he won twice in playoffs on the PGA Tour. Maintained that form last year, winning on both sides of the Atlantic while tying for third in the U.S. Open at Pinehurst and sharing fifth place at the British Open.

This year has been a bit of a mixed bag. Has produced three top-10 finishes in 12 PGA Tour starts but wasted an opportunity to win the Players Championship in March, falling out of contention with a closing 78. Battled to 46th place at the Masters in April and missed the cut at last month's U.S. Open. Has few peers when playing his best, though, and has produced top-10 finishes in four of the last five British Opens.

Turned professional on April 21 1999 after becoming earlier that year the first British amateur champion to finish as lowest amateur in the Masters at Augusta National. Won his first PGA Tour title at the Colonial in 2001 and followed up with a second U.S. victory in the Buick Classic one month later. Has won six PGA Tour titles and six European Tour events.