British Open 2012: Pre-Tournament Buzz for Golf's Top Stars

The 141st Open Championship is set to tee off from Royal Lytham this week, as golf's finest players attempt to conquer the course and lay claim to the coveted Claret Jug. 

Tiger Woods has three PGA tournament wins to his name in 2012, and looks to be gaining his old confidence and swagger back one swing at a time. 

Does that make the three-time British Open champion the favorite to win his first major since 2008 this July? 

Here is the latest pre-tournament buzz surrounding golf's top stars heading into the 2012 Open Championship from England. 

Bubba Watson

The shine of Bubba Watson is in danger of wearing off completely after a disappointing effort at the US Open last June. He failed to follow up his first career major win at the Masters with much consistency.

Watson's best finish at the British Open came in 2011, when he finished tied for 30th. 

Although the Masters win was huge for Watson's career, it feels like it was ages ago, and Bubba will need his confidence to return quickly if he is going to make a run at the Claret Jug. 

Darren Clarke

Defending British Open champion Darren Clarke on Monday officially returned his prize, the Claret Jug, so that this year's winner can claim it.

Clarke won his first career major at the Open Championship in 2011, and took the title to Northern Ireland for a year.

However, after disappointing outings at this season's first two major tournaments, Clarke has come back down to Earth in anticipation of the tough competition at Royal Lytham (via The Boston Herald):

"I’ve fallen into a little bit of a trap, trying too hard to play better, my whole game has been very, very average, to tell you the truth." 

Luke Donald

Luke Donald will look to bring England some pride at the British Open this summer. He will attempt to become the first English golfer to win the Open Championship since Nick Faldo in 1992, and the first to win at Royal Lytham since Tony Jacklin in 1969.

Donald, the world's No. 1 golfer, has never finished better than fifth at the British Open, and that finish came three years ago in 2009. 

The fact that Donald has never won a major nor finished better than tied for third at any major championship during his career is a significant factor in predicting his fate this July. 

Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson has only finished in the Top 10 at the British Open twice in his career, a stat that suggests Lefty will be a long-shot to win at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in 2012. 

Mickelson has just one tournament win this season, and was nowhere to be found towards the end of the US Open last June.

Lefty will need to rediscover his Masters momentum (he finished third at Augusta last spring) this July if he is to finally break through in the UK.

Rory McIlroy

Much like Bubba Watson, Rory McIlroy is in need of following up his first major tourney win with another in order to prove he belongs among golf's elite. 

McIlroy won the 2011 US Open at Congressional, but has since come up short as the favorite on most occasions. 

McIlroy's best finish at the British Open came in 2010, when he finished third at St. Andrews.

Tiger Woods

Despite missing the cut at the Greenbrier Classic two weekends ago, Tiger is riding considerable momentum coming into the season's third major tournament.

Woods won the AT&T National at Congressional in early July, his third tournament win of 2012, signaling the return of his championship-caliber game.

What's more, Woods has won the British Open three times in his career. Therefore, this summer's tournament should be well within reach for the elite golfer.

Regarding his play in majors, Woods said (via NJ.com):

"I just try and put myself there, I think that if I continue putting myself there enough times, then I'll win major championships."