The Open Championship Preview II: favourites


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  • Justin Rose (T-30th): Justin who? Well, this 21-year-old English phenom captured golf fans' imagination at the 1998 Open Championship, where he holed a 90-yard shot for a birdie at the last hole to finish tied for fourth. Rose turned professional the following week, and went on to miss 21 straight cuts. This year, he has won four tournaments, including twice on the European Tour, and is ninth on the European Tour money list. Regarded as a possible successor to Nick Faldo as the great English golfer, Rose has a fine putting stroke that belies his age and relative inexperience, and that will serve him well this week.

  • Justin Leonard (missed cut): This Justin has more professional experience, and has fared better at the previous Open Championships. The 1997 Open champion, Leonard also finished tied for second in 1999. With four top-10s including a win at Hilton Head, Leonard appears to be regaining his fine form of 1997. He is also a player with low-ball trajectory, which is required in windy conditions at the Opens, and a great clutch putter who has often come from behind to win.

  • Padraig Harrington (T-37th): The Irish stalwart is quietly putting together another tremendous season on the European Tour, and finished tied for fourth at the Masters and tied for eighth at the U.S. Open. Harrington plays well in tough weather conditions, as evidenced by the good showing at Augusta and Bethpage, and is an exceptional putter on fast greens. His inexperience at majors could hurt him, but Harrington's proven resiliency-in 2001, he had seven runner-ups before finally notching a win-will be a huge asset this week.

    Among other notables, defending champion David Duval has had a forgettable stretch of golf in the last year, having failed to add another title in 21 starts since his first major championship. He's got a lot to prove this week, especially after missing the cuts at both the Masters and the U.S. Open. Phil Mickelson doesn't have a great track record at the Open, his best finish being T-11th in 2001. But the lefty was third at the Masters and second at the U.S. Open, and won't easily let go of another chance to shed the unflattering moniker, 'the best player without a major.'

    Muirfield will present a unique challenge of links golf to those more familiar with the American style target golf. Hence, the eventual champ will prove to be the most accurate, creative and patient golfer of the week.

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