British Open 2011 Predictions: Jason Day and 9 Youngsters Who Could Win

They are young and hungry. Hungry to prove that their age means nothing when it comes to playing a gentleman's game. Nothing when it comes to driving a ball straight and in the fairway. Nothing when it comes to being the best at the game of golf.

The 2011 British Open (The Open Championship) hosts a bevy of youngsters just itching to prove they can master a course that has great pot bunkers, tall unforgiving rough and some of the most difficult conditions to play on. And waiting are these youngsters, led by Rory McIlroy and Jason Day. McIlroy is left out of this discussion since he is the favorite going into the tournament.

This is a look at some players from across the globe who could make claim that they tamed Royal St. George's.

Anthony Kim, 26

Remember when Kim was the talk of the American golf world as the next big thing? Now is time to show he can put it together.

He has four career wins to his credit and his best finish at the Open Championship was a tie for seventh in 2008.

He is currently ranks 73rd in the world.

Camilo Villegas, 29

The Columbian golfer played college golf at the University of Florida. He is something of a heartthrob on the tour, but you have to think he would like to be known more for winning this championship than his looks.

He has nine career wins to his credit and his best finish at the Open was 13th in 2009.

He plays on both the PGA and European Tours.

Justin Rose, 31

The South African can make a huge statement with a win here at The Open.

Rose burst on the scene in 1998 when he was an amateur and placed fourth, prompting him to turn professional the following week.

That move to professional golf was not good for him at first but Rose can play with the best of them, having tied for 11th this year at the Masters.

Sergio Garcia, 31

I know he is slightly old for this article, but he is the best golfer to... well, you know.

Garcia is an enigma of sorts. Twenty professional wins, teasing with greatness and finishing second in 2007 at The Open.

He won his first title at the age of 20, and 11 years later is still looking for his first Major championship.

Hunter Mahan, 29

Another American hopeful.

He tied for sixth at The Open in 2007 and is considered one of the many young guns to challenge American golf in the next decade.

In the eight years he has been on the professional tour, Mahan has four career wins. He now ranks 20th in the World Golf Rankings.

Francesco Molinari, 28

The Italian golfer has game!

With four career wins and a tie for 13th at The Open in 2009 to his credit, Molinari hopes to break out as he continues to rise through the ranks among the world's best golfers.

He currently ranks 22nd in the world.

Dustin Johnson, 27

The Coastal Carolina product has six wins to his credit but is still looking for his first Major championship.

He tied for 14th at The Open last year and is considered one of the group of young Americans who will take golf over once the Mickelsons and Woods and Furyks retire.

He is knocking on the door of the top 10 in the World Golf Rankings at 12th overall.

Martin Kaymer, 26

Kaymer is one of the best in the world.

He is one of the foreigners who is keeping the Americans at bay with solid golf. He was ranked No. 1 in the world this year, but since has fallen to third in the World Golf Rankings.

He won the 2010 PGA Championship and looks to be a strong contender for The Open title.

Charl Schwartzel, 26

He won the Masters. That should be good enough to prove you have arrived on the scene.

Schwartzel then proved he was adept on other American soils with a solid performance at the U.S. Open.

The South African would love to add another Major to his trophy case this year.

Jason Day, 23

Second at the Masters. Second at the U.S. Open. What can this youngster do for an encore?

Day seems ready to challenge McIlroy and the other foreign-born players for golf supremacy.

He tied for 60th last year in the Open Championship, but a year's worth of experience proves he can be the best at any given time.

He should be in the hunt come Sunday.