Player capsules for the British Open
Saturday - 7/14/2012, 12:02am ET
By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
(AP) - A capsule look at 20 top contenders in the British Open, to be played July 19-22 at Royal Lytham & St. Annes (listed in predicted order of finish):
LEE WESTWOOD
Age: 39.
Country: England.
World ranking: 3.
Worldwide wins: 38.
Majors: None.
At his best in 2012: Won the Masters twice _ Scandinavian and Indonesian.
At his worst in 2012: Staring up at a tree at Olympic Club, watching his U.S. Open hopes fade.
British Open moment: Fairway bunker shot that cleared the lip without an inch to spare on the 18th at Turnberry, a magnificent shot wasted when he three-putted to miss out on a playoff by one shot.
Pot bunker mentality: Equipped to bring England its first British Open title in England since Tony Jacklin in 1969 at Royal Lytham. He has the most top-3s (seven) of any player to have never won a major since 1934.
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LUKE DONALD
Age: 34.
Country: England.
World ranking: 1.
Worldwide wins: 11
Majors: None.
At his best in 2012: Winning at Wentworth to reclaim No. 1 for the third time this year.
At his worst in 2012: Missing the cut at the U.S. Open.
British Open moment: Only one top-10 in his career, a tie for fifth at Turnberry.
Pot bunker mentality: The second-most equipped player to bring England a British Open title on home soil. Has proven he is No. 1 in the world, though his major performance remains a major disappointment.
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HUNTER MAHAN
Age: 30.
Country: United States.
World ranking: 10.
Worldwide wins: 5.
Majors: None.
At his best in 2012: Beating Rory McIlroy in the final of the Match Play Championship in Arizona.
At his worst in 2012: Failing to break par in any round at the U.S. Open.
British Open moment: Closing with a 65 at Carnoustie in 2007.
Pot bunker mentality: A win would make him the front-runner for PGA Tour player of the year. Supremely gifted as a ball-striker, and slightly above-average length could make him well-suited for Royal Lytham. Will always have a reputation as a poor chipper until he wins a major _ or a key Ryder Cup point.
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IAN POULTER
Age: 36.
Country: England.
World ranking: 27.
Worldwide wins: 14.
Majors: None.
At his best in 2012: Five top-10s and has yet to miss a cut.
At his worst in 2012: If that's the nicest thing that can be said about him, it hasn't been much of a year.
British Open moment: Practicing his putting for so long in one spot at Royal Birkdale that he left two footprint-sized patches of dead grass.
Pot bunker mentality: The Open would seem to rank among his best chances because of a strong short game and a knack for getting the ball in the hole. Surely that palace he built at Lake Nona has room for a claret jug.
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TIGER WOODS
Age: 36.
Country: United States.
World ranking: 4.
Worldwide wins: 86.
Majors: Masters (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005), U.S. Open (2000, 2002, 2008), British Open (2000, 2005, 2006), PGA Championship (1999, 2000, 2006, 2007).
At his best in 2012: Won three tournaments.
At his worst in 2012: Failed to finish three tournaments _ two missed cuts, one WD in the final round.
British Open moment: Not hitting into a single bunker at St. Andrews when he won in 2000 by eight shots to complete the career Grand Slam.
Pot bunker mentality: Woods has somehow morphed into Phil Mickelson _ no one can predict what he's going to do next. Has not had a top-10 at the British Open since he won at Hoylake in 2006, though he has missed two years with physical ailments.
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BRANDEN GRACE
Age: 24.
Country: South Africa.
World ranking: 51.
Worldwide wins: 3.
Majors: None.
At his best in 2012: Won three times, tied with Tiger Woods for most worldwide.
At his worst in 2012: When he doesn't win, he has only finished in the top 10 one other time.
British Open moment: Opened with a 67 at Turnberry in his major championship debut at age 21.
Pot bunker mentality: Next to come out of the enlarged pipeline from South Africa. Hits the ball a long way, and has an experienced caddie (Zack Rasego, former looper for Louis Oosthuizen) at his side. This will be only his third major championship.
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PADRAIG HARRINGTON
Age: 41.
Country: Ireland.
World ranking: 60.
Worldwide wins: 15.
Majors: British Open (2007, 2008), PGA Championship (2008).
