British Open Tips 2012: Latest Tips and When and Where to Watch the Action

Here we are, heading into the 2012 British Open, and we once again have Tiger Woods as one of the favorites to win a major championship this year.

Of course, we've seen what happens to Woods this year when he's favored to win a major championship: He implodes from within.

But there have been signs that Woods has a shot at the 2012 British Open, albeit amid a host of contenders, leading up to the first round on Thursday at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in England (ESPN/ESPN3). 

For one, Woods leads the PGA Tour field with three wins this year. He's won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Memorial and the AT&T National, the latter coming at the start of July. 

Woods also ranks 11th on tour in greens in regulation, 26th in birdie average and first in scoring average, per PGATour.com. He's even improved in an area he's historically struggled in, driving accuracy (46th on tour).

There's also the fact that Woods has made some amazing shots in 2012 that have brought back memories of the Tiger of yore. He's making shots that we haven't seen from him in a long time.

And before you discount him winning the 2012 British Open because he missed the cut at the Greenbrier Classic, remember that there has been no rhyme or reason to Woods' campaign this year. He won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, then bombed at the Masters. Then he won the Memorial, and bombed at the U.S. Open.

The main thing to point out is that this is the best Woods has played overall since the crash heard 'round the world in late 2009. He realistically has a shot at winning a major championship in 2012.

Of course, there will be other contenders vying for the British Open title this year. 

You have Lee Westwood and Luke Donald, who continue to play at a high level, albeit without a major championship to their names.

You have Phil Mickelson, who finished second to Darren Clarke at last year's British Open, but has struggled this year.

You have the young Rory McIlroy, searching for his second major championship after his historic showing in the 2011 U.S. Open.

You also have Padraig Harrington, who has won the British Open twice in his career.

One thing to note is that rising American and 2012 U.S. Open champion, Webb Simpson, withdrew from this year's British Open because he's expecting the birth of his second child. Simpson has risen dramatically the past two years. He was ranked 213th in the world in 2010; now he's ranked fifth.

One thing's for sure: This is going to be yet another fun and exciting British Open this year, with numerous candidates swinging for victory.

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