128th Open Championship
128th Open Championship
Golf Today Home PageAll the latest golf newsCoverage of all the worlds major toursFor all your golfing needsGolf Course DirectoryOut on the courseGolf related travelWhats going on
 
Preivew of this years tournament
News and report from the 1st round
Scores from the 1st round
News and report from the 2nd round
Scores from the 2nd round
News and report from the 3rd round
Scores from the 3rd round
News and report from the 4th round
Scores from the 4th round
Information on the golf course
Details of the prize money for the tournament
Tournament Records
Golf Today report of last years event
 
 

Preview of leading contenders in this years Open

ERNIE ELS

Age: 29

Worldwide wins: 28

Majors: U.S. Open ('94, '97)

1999 Majors: Masters-T27, U.S. Open-MC

Opens: 8.

Best finish: T2.

Last year: T29.

Backspin: Has the length, links experience and patience to deal with anything Carnoustie might toss his way. Also has a great record at Open for not having won -- scoring average of 70.4 in 30 rounds. Aside from Los Angeles, has been very quiet this year. Could become first player since Seve Ballesteros to win three majors in his 20s.

TIGER WOODS

Age: 23

Worldwide wins: 13.

Majors: Masters ('97).

1999 Majors: Masters-T18, U.S. Open-T3.

Opens: 4.

Best finish: 3.

Last year: 3.

Backspin: Has won three of his last four starts, but could be this year's version of Lee Westwood -- winning tournaments just before the majors. Clearly has length to cope with Carnoustie's brutal closing holes and tremendous imagination for his age. If gallery was enamored by Hogan, wait until it gets a load of Tiger.

DAVIS LOVE III

Age: 35.

Worldwide wins: 15.

Majors: PGA Championship ('97).

1999 Majors: Masters-2, U.S. Open-T12.

Opens: 12.

Best finish: 8.

Last year: 8.

Backspin: British Open is the one major he figured he'd have won by now. Length will be to his advantage, and he has a nice touch around the greens. Has become a streaky putter over the past couple of years, but could be extremely dangerous if he gets hot.

DAVID DUVAL

Age: 27.

Worldwide wins: 11.

Majors: None.

1999 Majors: Masters-T6, U.S. Open-T7.

Opens: 4.

Best finish: T11.

Last year: T11.

Backspin: In his longest victory drought since this time last year -- six tournaments. Has had a chance on Sunday in both majors, but showing a troubling tendency to give back strokes in a hurry. Links may not be his best fit, but his game is good enough anywhere. Long off the tee and rock-solid between the ears.

SERGIO GARCIA

Age: 19.

Worldwide wins: 2.

Majors: None.

1999 Majors: Masters-T38, U.S. Open-DNP.

Opens: 2.

Best finish: T29.

Last year: T29.

Backspin: Coming off first victory as a pro in the Irish Open. Could be the most intriguing player since another 19-year-old Spaniard, Seve Ballesteros, nearly won the Open at Royal Birkdale in 1976. Not lacking in length, ability, creativity or confidence.

PHIL MICKELSON

Age: 29.

Worldwide wins: 14.

Majors: None.

1999 Majors: Masters-T6, U.S. Open-2.

Opens: 6.

Best finish: T24.

Last year: 79.

Backspin: Will either be rusty from not playing since U.S. Open or riding high from fatherhood. Answered questions about his ability to contend under the most difficult circumstances. Showed at Pinehurst No. 2 that he can play smart around the greens. Solid play in the majors this year.

LEE WESTWOOD

Age: 26.

Worldwide wins: 14.

Majors: None.

1999 Majors: Masters-T6, U.S. Open-MC.

Opens: 4.

Best finish: T10.

Last year: T64.

Backspin: As long as he doesn't complain that Carnoustie is too short, he should be the best bet to keep claret jug in Britain for the first time in seven years. Plenty long off the tee. Shoulder problems seem to be behind him. Dealing with the pressure could be the real challenge.

TOM LEHMAN

Age: 40.

Worldwide wins: 6.

Majors: British Open ('96).

1999 Majors: Masters-T31, U.S. Open-T28.

Opens: 5.

Best finish: Won.

Last year: MC.

Backspin: Keep him away from amusement parks, where he injured left shoulder on the eve of last year's Open. Hasn't won since Loch Lomond two years ago. Has given himself a chance twice this year, and is capable on any given week. U.S. Open-style mentality is always an asset at a place like Carnoustie.

STEVE STRICKER

Age: 32.

Worldwide wins: 4.

Majors: None.

1999 Majors: Masters-T38, U.S. Open-5.

Opens: 3.

Best finish:T22.

Last year: T52.

Backspin: Could be the next American to win his first major. Never saw St. Andrews and won all of his Dunhill Cup matches in 1996. Solid ball-striker and quietly confident. Hit the ball poorly in final round of PGA at Sahalee but gave Vijay Singh all he could handle for 17 holes.

YNE STEWART

Age: 42.

Worldwide wins: 18.

Majors: PGA Championship ('89), U.S. Open ('91, '99).

1999 Majors: Masters-T52, U.S. Open-1.

Opens: 16.

Best finish: 2.

Last year: T44.

Backspin: Could join Trevino, Hogan, Sarazen and Jones as the only players to win U.S. Open and British Open in the same year. With his maturity, Pinehurst victory could be a confidence booster instead of a distraction, particularly with his affinity for links golf. Finished one stroke back of Sandy Lyle in 1985.

VIJAY SINGH

Age: 36.

Worldwide wins: 28.

Majors: PGA Championship ('98).

1999 Majors: Masters-T24, U.S. Open-T3.

Opens: 10.

Best finish: T6.

Last year: T19.

Backspin: Has the qualities and the experience to win a British Open, and is playing as well as he has all year. Great iron player who doesn't make many mistakes, and showed in south Florida (Honda Classic) he can handle the wind.

JUSTIN LEONARD

Age: 27.

Worldwide wins: 4.

Majors: British Open ('97).

1999 Majors: Masters-T18, U.S. Open-T15.

British Opens: 5.

Best finish: Won.

Last year: T57.

Backspin: His Open defense included an 82 in the third round. With Texas roots and cold stare, maybe the Scots will call him "Wee Ice Mon Jr." Not as short off the tee as some think, but nowhere near Tiger Woods or David Duval, either. Hasn't won in his last 36 starts.

COLIN MONTGOMERIE

Age: 36.

Worldwide wins: 21.

Majors: None.

1999 Majors: Masters-T11, U.S. Open-T15.

Opens: 9.

Best finish: T8.

Last year: MC.

Backspin: Europe's best player every week but the British Open. Has missed the cut (5) more times than he has made it (4). He will say he is as confident as ever. He will say he can be satisfied with his career if he never wins a major. He will surprise many people if he contends on Sunday.

MARK O'MEARA

Age: 42.

Worldwide wins: 23.

Majors: Masters ('98), British Open ('98).

1999 Majors: Masters-T31, U.S. Open-MC.

Opens: 14.

Best finish: Won.

Last year: Won.

Backspin: Last player to successfully defend the Open was Tom Watson in 1983, which turned out to be his last major championship. O'Meara isn't a likely candidate to make a successful defense -- or win another major. Too busy flying around the world cashing in on his unbelieveable '98 season.

JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL

Age: 33.

Majors: Masters ('94, '99).

1999 Majors: Masters-1, U.S. Open-WD.

Opens: 14.

Best finish: 3.

Last year: T15.

Backspin: Will likely be staying in a room with padded walls. Broken hand from punching hotel wall in frustration at U.S. Open should be healed, but Olazabal will need more than that. Only one top-10 in British Open. Not the longest hitter, and certainly not the most accurate.

FRED COUPLES

Age: 39.

Worldwide wins: 19.

Majors: Masters ('92).

1999 Majors: Masters-T27, U.S. Open-MC.

Opens: 12.

Best finish: T3.

Last year: T66.

Backspin: One never knows which Fred Couples will show up. Despite not winning, has had more consistent success in British Open than any other major. If he can keep his focus for four rounds -- preferrably Thursday through Sunday -- he could easily win. Long hitter who can make a complex game look awfully easy.

GREG NORMAN

Age: 44.

Worldwide wins: 74.

Majors: British Open ('86, '93).

1999 Majors: Masters-3, U.S. Open-MC.

Opens: 20.

Best finish: Won.

Last year: DNP.

Backspin: Unless he was inspired watching his 13-year-old son break 80 for the first time, it's hard to take Norman seriously. Went six weeks without playing after another close call at Augusta and missed the cut at Pinehurst. Carnoustie will be his first tournament since then. Does Norman care enough to win again, or is he pacing himself?

JESPER RNEVIK

Age: 34.

Worldwide wins: 10.

Majors: None.

1999 Majors: Masters-MC, U.S. Open-T17.

Opens: 6.

Best finish: 2.

Last year: T4.

Backspin: Has played in the final pairing three of the past five years. Good links player, solid with his irons. Is on the wrong kind of roll -- since opening with a 68 at Birkdale last year, has gone 13 consecutive rounds in the majors without breaking par.

CARLOS FRANCO

Age: 34.

Worldwide wins: 6.

Majors: None.

1999 Majors: Masters-T6, U.S. Open-T34.

Opens: 1.

Best finish: T64.

Last year: T64.

Backspin: Last year at Birkdale, he was the best player from Paraguay whom nobody heard of -- this year, simply best player from Paraguay. Tremendous talent considering his roots and fearless on the best courses against the best fields. Won at New Orleans in his rookie season on PGA Tour.

JOHN COOK

Age: 42.

Worldwide wins: 12.

Majors: None.

1999 Majors: Masters-MC, U.S. Open-T60.

Opens: 6.

Best finish: 2.

Last year: DNP.

Backspin: Inspired by what childhood pal O'Meara accomplished last year in his 40s, although Cook would need to win Open and PGA to match him. Didn't play first Open until he was 35. Nothing to suggest he'll win at Carnoustie except for Golf Digest. The magazine's last two features have been on Olazabal and Stewart. Cook is in this month's issue.

AP


Ashbury Golf Hotel