2011 British Open: 5 Big-Name Players Who Could Miss the Cut

Five very big names are in danger of not seeing the weekend at Royal St. George's, and I'm not talking about the likes of John Daly or David Duval. 

These are players who have been successful in recent years.  In fact, three of them won major championships in 2010.  Another one lost in a playoff in a 2010 major.  The last guy took home a very big check from the PGA Tour last season. 

Got an idea of whom they are yet?

5. Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson has never been good on the links-style courses.  Other than a third-place finish in the 2004 Open, he has never finished in the top 10. 

He has been very inconsistent this season and is coming off two listless majors.  Since Mickelson has struggled over the pond even when his game was in form, he could be headed home early.

4. Bubba Watson

Bubba Watson's frustration came to a boil last week following a missed cut at the French Open as he blasted the crowd and the tournament officials.  He no doubt will be the subject of some unruly crowds this week, and his concentration seems to have slipped from earlier in the year.

He's not enjoying the game as much right now—he looks more motivated to go back home than to play the Open.

3. Louis Oosthuizen

The defending Open champion has had an unremarkable year following a January win in the Africa Open.  He missed cuts at the Masters, the BMW PGA and in Dubai. 

He is coming off a ninth-place finish at the US Open but was never in contention.  Despite a big margin of victory last year, Oosthuizen could very well lose his crown on Friday.

2. Graeme McDowell

The danger with Graeme McDowell is the blow-up round.  It happened in the Scottish Open last weekend when a final round 74 dropped him from contention. 

He opened the Masters with a 74 and the BMW PGA with a 75, missing both cuts.  He also fired an 80 at Bay Hill to open.  McDowell has had several instances this year where his game completely imploded.  It doesn't seem he's figured it out either.

1. Jim Furyk

The defending Fed Ex Cup champion is in a tailspin.  He has missed seven cuts in 17 starts on the PGA Tour this year and four consecutive cuts in a row coming into the Open.  Furyk will likely ponder what has gone wrong while flying back to the States Friday.