British Open 2012: Tiger Woods and Most Exciting Players at Royal Lytham

A course that features more than 200 bunkers and three par-3’s on the front nine, and whose list of past Open Championship winners includes Seve Ballesteros and David Duval?

It must be time for the 2012 Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.

A field of nearly 150 players is set to compete for the Claret Jug, and join Duval and Tom Lehman as golfers to win the British Open at Royal Lytham in the past 20 years.

With a streak of 15 straight different major winners currently ongoing, this year’s Open Championship is sure to continue with the excitement felt at recent major tournaments.

And with three wins on tour so far this season, Tiger Woods heads a list of golfers who will add to the excitement at this year’s third major.

Here are 10 players, including Woods, who will be the most exciting to watch at Royal Lytham.

Hunter Mahan

Mahan enters the 2012 British Open having finished outside the top 10 at the year’s first two majors.

However, he also heads to Royal Lytham and St. Annes ranked fourth on the PGA Tour in the FedExCup Points standings.

Mahan brings with him four top-10 finishes this season, including victories at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, and at the Shell Houston Open.  His Match Play Championship earlier this year came by defeating Rory McIlroy and preventing him from taking the No. 1 ranking in the world at the time.

Mahan’s success at the British Open has been on a downswing the past couple of years.  After finishing tied for 26th at the 2006 British Open, Mahan made the jump to the top-10 at the 2007 tournament, finishing tied for sixth.  However, he has recently missed the cut at three of the past four British Opens.

But this year’s early success has provided Mahan with an opportunity to consistently keep his name among some of the tour’s best golfers.

With 10 top-25 finishes in 15 total events this season, Mahan has continued with the success that he saw late in 2011, when he finished the season with three consecutive top-10 finishes.

The 10th-ranked golfer, according to the PGA Tour Official Golf Rankings, also currently ranks third on tour in greens in regulation percentage.

Between improving from his 2010 Ryder Cup performance and his current 68.34 driving accuracy percentage, Mahan has a chance to match his 2007 British Open performance and to continue finding consistency when he hits the course at the 2012 Open Championship.

Tiger Woods

Will Royal Lytham see the drought end?

It’s been more than four years since he last won a major, but three tour wins and a U.S. Open that saw him in contention early still has Woods as one of the most exciting players to watch at this year’s Open Championship.

Woods’ prior two attempts at conquering Royal Lytham saw him finish tied for 22nd and 25th in 1996 and 2001, respectively.

Although he missed last year’s tournament, Woods still has three career British Open victories, in 2000, 2005 and 2006.  Each of these titles came by Woods finishing 14 or more strokes under par; scores that are similar to the scores posted by the past two British Open winners at Royal Lytham.

This season, wins at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Memorial Tournament and the AT&T National have given Woods 74 career PGA victories, passing Jack Nicklaus for second on the all-time wins list.

His most recent victory at the AT&T National at Congressional saw Woods go 41 holes without a bogey.

Woods still has work to do, however, in order to turn this year’s Open Championship into his 15th career major.

He will need to improve on his 64.22 driving accuracy percentage, which currently ranks outside of the top-40 on tour, and his 28.21 percentage on putts made from 10-15 feet, if he wants to win his fourth tournament of the season.

However, as Woods begins to win with more consistency, the timing is right for a possible major victory as well as for him to become the first golfer on the PGA Tour to eclipse the $100 million mark in career earnings.

Tom Lehman

Tom Lehman has something that only one other golfer in the field at this year’s Open Championship has: a British Open title at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.

The Champions Tour member has already notched one victory this season, and has five top-5 finishes in total.

He has not missed a cut on the Champions tour since 2008.

Last season saw him take home three victories and record 20 top-25 finishes in 21 events.

After having difficulty sealing U.S. Open wins in 1995 and 1996, Lehman won his first and only major at the 1996 British Open at Royal Lytham after shooting a third-round 64.

Lehman finished last year’s British Open at Royal St. George’s tied for 22nd with Tom Watson at +6.

The five-time winner on the PGA Tour has already proven himself once in the elements this year.  On his way to winning the Regions Tradition last month, Lehman was forced to play the final round in rainy conditions, winning the event for the second-consecutive year.

The reigning Champions Tour Player of the Year will attempt to rekindle the spark he found in 1996 when he took on Royal Lytham.  Lehman is the only golfer to be named player of the year on the then-Hogan Tour, PGA Tour and Champions Tour.

Lee Westwood

Will Royal Lytham be the major that gets Lee Westwood on the board?

With more than 30 career victories between the PGA Tour and international competitions, Westwood’s resume is still lacking a major title.

Westwood has only finished outside of the top 10 in a major that he’s played in once in the past two seasons.  The No. 3-ranked golfer in the world also finds himself ranked second in greens in regulation with a percentage of 71.63.

Last season saw him miss the cut at Royal St. George’s.  However, in the two years prior, Westwood had finished tied for third (2009) and second (2010) at the British Open.

Westwood has been one of the more consistent golfers on tour over the past few years.  Unfortunately, that consistency has led to numerous top-5 finishes at majors, but no victories.

With the course's more than 200 bunkers, Westwood’s solid approach from within 100 yards could be crucial at Royal Lytham.  His driving accuracy, on the other hand, also could come into play.  At 62.24 percent, Westwood ranks 67th on the PGA Tour in that category.

Westwood’s striking ability should once again have him in contention at the Open Championship.  And with a streak of nine first-time major winners currently ongoing, he will have as good a chance as any at taking the title.

Rory McIlroy

It’s been tale of two seasons for Rory McIlroy.

Last season saw him finish tied for 15th at the Masters after a dominant start to the tournament and take the U.S. Open title.

This season, McIlroy has finished tied for 40th at the Masters and missed the cut at the U.S. Open.  He has missed cuts at three of the past four PGA Tour events that he’s entered.

But that doesn’t mean he won’t be one of the most exciting players to watch at this year’s Open Championship.

Despite his performances in recent events, McIlroy is still the No. 2-ranked golfer in the world.  The 23-year-old began the season by finishing second and third at two World Golf Championships; the Accenture Match Play Championship and Cadillac Championship, respectively.  In between those events, McIlroy won the Honda Classic.

McIlroy is coming off an Irish Open performance that saw him finish tied for 10th after going bogey-free in the tournament’s final round.

McIlroy’s driving accuracy could come into play at Royal Lytham, as an area in need of improvement. But his putting, especially from 15 to 25 feet, could help immensely as he tries to win his first British Open.

With now having experience in PGA playoffs, and having had more time to adjust to being ranked among the world’s best, McIlroy has a good chance to get back on track at the Open Championship.

Ernie Els

Ernie Els finished tied for third the last time the British Open was held at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.

The following year, in 2002, he won his first British Open title.

A decade later, he’ll be looking for his second Open Championship when he takes the course at Royal Lytham.

In addition to being one of the most exciting players to watch at this year’s event, Els may also have some of the best chances at winning.

In 1996, the first time Els took on the British Open at Royal Lytham, he finished tied for second.  In 2001, the second time he played the event while it was held at Royal Lytham, he finished tied for third.

Despite missing cuts at the past two British Opens, Els has found much success throughout his career at the event.  He will also be coming off a U.S. Open performance this season that saw him finish ninth.  In total, Els has seven top-25 finishes in 13 events this season.

Els can join elite company if he wins the Open Championship, as few players have won multiple British and U.S. Opens.

Els won the U.S. Open in 1994 and 1997.

Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson has four major titles on his resume, but none have come at an Open Championship.

Last season, however, he was able to finish tied for second at the event at Royal St. George’s.

In addition to 2004, Mickelson’s most recent British Open performance gives him just two top-10 finishes in the event in the past decade.

However, as of late he seems to be embracing the elements typically found at the British Open.

In a recent article by AP sports writer Steve Douglas on the Miami Herald website, Mickelson talked about the adjustments he’s made to playing on a links course with coach Dave Pelz.

"

We spent some time working on some low shots, working on a couple of different tee shots to get the ball on the ground and to get the ball in play. Consequently, I have not been having as big misses off the tee as I had earlier in my career where I was playing the ball through the air and letting the crosswinds take it.

"

If Mickelson’s experience pays off, he will surely be one of the most exciting players to watch at Royal Lytham, despite not having much success there during British Opens.

In 1996 he finished tied for 40th and in 2001 tied for 30th.

With one victory already this year, a tie for third place at the Masters and a chance to continue his improvement on links courses, Mickelson has a chance to win his first British Open title.

Padraig Harrington

It’s been four years since Harrington capped a streak that saw him win three majors in five attempts, beginning with the 2007 British Open.

However, since winning the 2008 PGA Championship, Harrington has not won an official PGA Tour event.

But this season’s early results should give him reason for optimism as he heads back to Royal Lytham for the British Open.

In the year’s first two majors, Harrington has two top-10 finishes, including a performance at the Masters that saw him tie for eighth and a U.S. Open that saw him tie for fourth.

And, although his previous trips to Royal Lytham did not see him take the title, his 1996 experience is no less exciting to him.

In a recent article on PGATour.com by Larry Dorman, Harrington provided insight into the event as he reminisced on his first British Open at the course.

"

It’s right up there as one of the top experiences....It was a spectacular 36 holes.  I played well, and on the 36th hole, I hit it in the greenside trap.  I holed the bunker shot.

I got so excited, I took the putter out of the bag.  I’ve never ever been as excited on the golf course, the hairs on the back of my head stood up.  It was just an unbelievable cheer went up when I holed it.

"

Harrington’s experience with the course, and in British Opens for that matter, could help him end his winless streak and notch his third Open title (fourth major overall).  He is also coming off a strong performance at the Irish Open, in which finished at -12, good enough for a spot in the top 10. 

Justin Rose

Could this be the year that the 31-year-old wins his first major?

Since turning pro, Rose has yet to win a major despite racking up 10 victories combined between the PGA Tour and international competitions.

This season, however, Rose may be working his way toward sealing his first major victory.

Rose has made the cut at all 12 events that he’s played this season and has finished in the top 10 five times.  He continued his streak of winning at least one event for the third consecutive year when he won the Cadillac Championship.

In total, Rose now has four PGA Tour victories in three years.

Rose finished this year’s Masters tied for eighth, the second straight year he’s finished in the top 15 at the event.  His best major performance, however, took place at the 1998 British Open.

As a 17-year-old, Rose finished fourth at the event.

2007 saw him finish 12th or better at all four majors, while racking up 11 top-25 finishes and only missing one cut.

Rose will need a well-rounded game if he is to win his first major at Royal Lytham.

Although he ranks fourth on the PGA Tour in greens in regulation percentage, he also ranks 35th in driving accuracy and 122nd in strokes gained-putting.

Based on his performances this season, Rose should be in contention at the Open Championship.

Luke Donald

Will Royal Lytham be the major that gets the world’s No. 1-ranked golfer on the board?

Donald’s consistency with winning tournaments has allowed him to reclaim the No. 1 ranking.  These tournaments, however, do not include a major.

This season has not seen quite the same level of success at majors as 2011, when he finished tied for fourth at the Masters and tied for eighth at the PGA Championship.

But it has seen a victory at the Transitions Championship and only one missed cut for the player currently ranked 15th in the PGA FedExCup Points Standings.

If Donald were to win at Royal Lytham, it would not only be his first major, but it would also be the first time since 1969 that an Englishman won the British Open while it was held in England.

Donald will take the course at Royal Lytham following a Scottish Open performance that saw him tie for 16^th.

Although he ranks in the top 15 on the PGA Tour in strokes gained-putting and in the top 20 in driving accuracy, he slips outside of the top 100 with a 62.91 greens in regulation percentage.

With how long he’s been ranked No. 1, Donald is part of a list of golfers who have found much success on tour despite not having won a major.  That could change when he hits the course at Royal Lytham.