A look at 20 top players at the 136th Open, to be played July 19-22 at Carnoustie (listed in predicted order of finish):
JIM FURYK
Age: 37
Country: United States
World ranking: 2
Worldwide victories: 15
Majors: U.S. Open (2003)
Last five British Opens: 4-MC-MC-MC-MC
Last time at Carnoustie: T10
Majors in 2007: Masters-T15, U.S. Open-T2
Backspin: He is without a victory this year, but keeps putting himself in contention; the playoff loss at Colonial, the 71st hole bogey at Oakmont and last week at Congressional. His fourth-place finish last year at Liverpool showed he remembers how to play links courses. Missed the cut in four straight Opens while trying to work on a higher ball flight for his predominantly American schedule. Considered one of the toughest players, and is suited to handle the toughest links.
TIGER WOODS
Age: 31
Country: United States
World ranking: 1
Worldwide victories: 67
Majors: Masters (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005), U.S. Open (2000, 2002), British Open (2000, 2005, 2006), PGA Championship (1999, 2000, 2006)
Last five British Opens: 1-1-9-4-28
Last time at Carnoustie: T7
Majors in 2007: Masters-T2, U.S. Open-T2
Backspin: He has a chance to have the longest winning streak in the Open since Peter Thomson (1954-56) or have the most consecutive runner-up finishes in the majors since Ernie Els (2000). The putter let him down at the Masters, his irons hurt him at Oakmont. He won't be able to keep driver in the bag like he did at Hoylake, but Woods generally thrives on tough courses, and the British Open might end up being his best major.
ERNIE ELS
Age: 37
Country: South Africa
World ranking: 5
Worldwide victories: 58
Majors: U.S. Open (1994, 1997), British Open (2002)
Last five British Opens: 3-T34-2-T18-1
Last time at Carnoustie: T24
Majors in 2007: Masters-MC, U.S. Open-T51
Backspin: His last victory against top competition was more than two years ago, and he barely made a peep in the first two majors. But links golf usually brings out the best in the Big Easy, and a good attitude could go a long way at Carnoustie. He went five years between his last two majors, and in a quiet way, he could be due to end that drought. The only thing he is lacking is a good week of putting.
Backspin: The British Open is the major he desperately wants to win given his professional rebirth in the early 1990s, and time is running out. He has a nagging elbow injury that he had checked out, but then played reasonably well at Congressional. He can be a factor at Carnoustie because of his driving strength, and being in contention Sunday could inspire him to make one more run.
JUSTIN ROSE
Age: 26
Country: England
World ranking: 21
Worldwide victories: 5
Majors: None
Last five British Opens: DNP-DNP-DNP-MC-22
Last time at Carnoustie: MC
Majors in 2007: Masters-T5, U.S. Open-T10
Backspin: Back injuries have limited his starts this year, but he has performed well when he does play. Had a chance at the Masters, was in contention at the U.S. Open and lost in a playoff at Wentworth, the flagship European Tour event. He has all the tools to win a major, much less win any tournament against top competition, but still has to overcome his own self-doubts on the back nine.
MIKE WEIR
Age: 37
Country: Canada
World ranking: 40
Worldwide victories: 9
Majors: Masters (2003)
Last five British Opens: 56-MC-9-28-69
Last time at Carnoustie: 37
Majors in 2007: Masters-T20, U.S. Open-T20
Backspin: With the Presidents Cup looming, it's time for this Canadian to find another gear. He showed signs last week at Congressional until stumbling out of contention into a tie for eighth. He is gaining more confidence with his swing each week, and only needs to see more putts going in for him to be a factor again.
ANGEL CABRERA
Age: 37
Country: Argentina
World ranking: 18
Worldwide victories: 16
Majors: U.S. Open (2007)
Last five British Opens: 7-MC-DNP-22-MC
Last time at Carnoustie: T4
Majors in 2007: Masters-T37, U.S. Open-1
Backspin: Finished one shot out of a playoff at Carnoustie in 1999. He showed enormous poise winning at Oakmont, not only with precision irons but a clutch drive on the final hole. He tends to play his best on the toughest courses, and his awesome length figures to go a long way at Carnoustie. Could join Ben Hogan as the only players to win at Oakmont and Carnoustie in the same year.
STUART APPLEBY
Age: 36
Country: Australia
World ranking: 27
Worldwide victories: 10
Majors: None
Last five British Opens: MC-41-36-15-T2
Last time at Carnoustie: MC
Majors in 2007: Masters-T7, U.S. Open-T26
Backspin: Why he doesn't contend in more majors has always been a bit of a mystery. Finally given a chance, he raised even more questions by losing a one-shot lead at the Masters with a 75 in the final round. Had a two-shot lead at Congressional last week and was 6 over on his first seven holes. Best chance came at the British Open in 2002 when he was eliminated in a four-man playoff. He might be better off trying to come from behind, or moving the Open to Kapalua.
JUSTIN LEONARD
Age: 35
Country: United States
World ranking: 170
Worldwide victories: 10
Majors: British Open (1997)
Last five British Opens: DNP-52-16-MC-14
Last time at Carnoustie: T2
Majors in 2007: Masters-DNP, U.S. Open-MC
Backspin: He didn't make a cut until Bay Hill, held back by atrocious putting, but the former Open champion is starting to hit his stride. He tied for second at the Buick Open and is getting closer to putting all the parts of his game together. One of the few who has at least a few good memories of Carnoustie, but certainly not the Barry Burn. He found it twice on the 18th hole, in regulation and the playoff.
GEOFF OGILVY
Age: 30
Country: Australia
World ranking: 8
Worldwide victories: 3
Majors: U.S. Open (2006)
Last five British Opens: 16-5-DNP-DNP-DNP
Last time at Carnoustie: MC
Majors in 2007: Masters-T24, U.S. Open-T42
Backspin: Winning the U.S. Open exposed him as one of the top players, although he hasn't done much to back that up. His only serious chance of winning was the Australian Open late last year and the Accenture Match Play Championship, where he lost in the final. Even so, he has been playing with more patience and poise, and he has performed well in the two Opens in which he has played.
LUKE DONALD
Age: 29
Country: England
World ranking: 9
Worldwide victories: 4
Majors: None
Last five British Opens: 35-52-MC-MC-MC
Last time at Carnoustie: MC
Majors in 2007: Masters-T10, U.S. Open-MC
Backspin: Along with Paul Casey, he carries hopes for a British community that has not seen a major champion since Paul Lawrie's surprise win at Carnoustie in 1999. Fundamentally sound as a player, he is now more experienced from playing in the final group with Tiger Woods at the PGA Championship. It would help to get off to a good start. A year ago, he opened with a 74 and never quite recovered.
K.J. CHOI
Age: 37
Country: South Korea
World ranking: 13
Worldwide victories: 12
Majors: None
Last five British Opens: MC-41-16-22-MC
Last time at Carnoustie: T49
Majors in 2007: Masters-T27, U.S. Open-MC
Backspin: Perhaps the hottest player in golf over the last few months, with strong finishes to win the Memorial and AT&T National. He now represents Asia's best chance at capturing a major. He is driving the ball well with a baby cut, still getting ample power, and his putting is much improved.
STEVE STRICKER
Age: 40
Country: United States
World ranking: 16
Worldwide victories: 5
Majors: None
Last five British Opens: DNP-DNP-DNP-DNP-59
Last time at Carnoustie: MC
Majors in 2007: Masters-MC, U.S. Open-T13
Backspin: Has not played links golf since Muirfield in 2002, but he is playing some of his best golf in the last 10 years. Has had three close calls this year, finishing second at Wachovia behind Tiger Woods and stumbling over the back nine of Congressional to finish behind K.J. Choi last week. Was atop the leaderboard Sunday at Oakmont until reaching the back nine. One of the best putters in golf, but the reason he has risen to No. 16 in the world is his iron play. That needs to continue.
RETIEF GOOSEN
Age: 38
Country: South Africa
World ranking: 11
Worldwide victories: 28
Majors: U.S. Open (2001, 2004)
Last five British Opens: 14-5-7-10-8
Last time at Carnoustie: T10
Majors in 2007: Masters-T2, U.S. Open-MC
Backspin: What gives him hope is a strong record in the British Open, finishing no worse than 14th the last six times with a pulse that should be a good fit for a place like Carnoustie. What makes him a wild card is his up-and-down play. Was poised to win the Masters until he failed to make a birdie down the stretch, then missed the cut at Oakmont.
ADAM SCOTT
Age: 27
Country: Australia
World ranking: 4
Worldwide victories: 12
Majors: None
Last five British Opens: T8-T34-T42-MC-MC
Last time at Carnoustie: DNP
Majors in 2007: Masters-T27, U.S. Open-MC
Backspin: He might be the highest-ranked player to have rarely been a threat in a major. A solid player who does everything well but nothing extraordinarily, he still hasn't shown the ability to avoid getting spooked about the biggest tournaments in golf. Won in Houston earlier this year, but didn't hold the lead at Memorial. The key for him is to start well and go from there, because he's as capable as anyone.
SERGIO GARCIA
Age: 27
Country: Spain
World ranking: 12
Worldwide victories: 16
Majors: None
Last five British Opens: T5-T5-MC-T10-T8
Last time at Carnoustie: MC
Majors in 2007: Masters-MC, U.S. Open-MC
Backspin: Not the best start in the majors considering that some believe he's the best player without one. And it probably doesn't help to be returning to Carnoustie, where he cried on his mother's shoulder in 1999 after shooting 89-83 in his professional debut at a major. He was last among those who finished 36 holes. His ball-striking makes him a threat anywhere, but he needs to treat this as a fresh start.
PADRAIG HARRINGTON
Age: 35
Country: Ireland
World ranking: 10
Worldwide victories: 14
Majors: None
Last five British Opens: MC-DNP-MC-T22-T5
Last time at Carnoustie: T29
Majors in 2007: Masters-T7, U.S. Open-MC
Backspin: Captured one of his biggest victories at the Irish Open, which feels like a major when one is Irish. He is another who can end Europe's drought in the majors that dates to Carnoustie in 1999. Started the final round at the Masters only two shots out of the lead, but failed to get anything going. Does well at putting his blinders on, so he's not likely to be bothered by Carnoustie's challenge.
COLIN MONTGOMERIE
Age: 44
Country: Scotland
World ranking: 30
Worldwide victories: 36
Majors: None
Last five British Opens: MC-2-T25-MC-T82
Last time at Carnoustie: T15
Majors in 2007: Masters-MC, U.S. Open-MC
Backspin: His confidence should be positively soaring upon arrival at Carnoustie, having won for the first time in Europe in two years at The K Club last week. The Open has never been his best major except for his spirited play at St. Andrews. Then again, none of the majors has treated him too kindly. Carnoustie crowned an unlikely Scottish winner in 1999, so maybe he fits the bill.
Backspin: Until Oakmont, he had not missed a cut in a major since Carnoustie. He has never played the Open very well, except for 2004, which was his best year in the majors. And he is even more of a question mark now given his injury (left wrist), his performance (missed cut) and assessment ("It's dangerous out there") at the U.S. Open. The good news is that the rough shouldn't be as thick this year.
HENRIK STENSON
Age: 31
Country: Sweden
World ranking: 7
Worldwide victories: 9
Majors: None
Last five British Opens: T48-T34-DNP-DNP-DNP
Last time at Carnoustie: DNP
Majors in 2007: Masters-T17, U.S. Open-MC
Backspin: The big-hitting Swede hit his stride in February when he won Dubai and the Accenture Match Play Championship. His wife is expecting their first child, which might cloud his Open chances. He is a powerful player, but it remains to be seen whether he has enough variety in his game to handle the various obstacles presented in links golf.
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