British Open Favorites 2012: Day-by-Day Predictions for Top Golfers

Tiger Woods is one of the top contenders at the British Open. After failing at the Masters and U.S. Open earlier this year, he will be determined to lift the Claret Jug for a fourth time.

Phil Mickelson, Masters champion Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk, Ernie Els and Rory McIlroy will all be competing at Royal Lytham and St. Annes Golf Club in England.

Let's look at round-by-round predictions for all the top contenders in this year's British Open.

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods is my pick to win the British Open. If he heads into the final round with the lead, it's tough to imagine him not winning the tournament.

His trouble in the two previous majors of 2012 was that he would start out strong on Thursday and Friday, then falter on the weekend. It's likely that Woods will have a more consistent performance at the British Open.

Round-by-Round Predictions

Thursday: 68

Friday: 69

Saturday: 68

Sunday: 68

Total: 273 or seven under par

Phil Mickelson

Unlike last year, Phil Mickelson will go into this year's tournament as one of the players to beat.

Phil has just one win in 2012 and finished 65th at the U.S. Open after placing in third at the Masters.

He hasn't had a very good year, but he could certainly turn his season around in England. Mickelson will not only make the cut, he will be a threat to win the tournament.

Round-by-Round Predictions

Thursday: 70

Friday: 68

Saturday: 71

Sunday: 68

Total: 277 or three under par

Bubba Watson

After his Masters victory in April, everyone thought this would be Bubba Watson's year to become a superstar on the PGA Tour.

His momentum was quickly ruined when he shockingly missed the cut at the U.S. Open.

Watson has participated in the British Open three times and has been cut twice (2009-10) and finished T-30th (2011).

Don't expect Watson to become a major contender this week.

Round-by-Round Predictions

Thursday: 70

Friday: 72

Saturday: 71

Sunday: 71

Total: 284 or four over par

Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy missed the cut at the U.S. Open and needs to earn a top-10 finish at the British Open to gain some momentum heading into the last part of the season.

There's no excuse for McIlroy to do poorly on a links course. If he focuses on the tee and hits the fairway, he will see improvement in his game.

The British Open will be McIlroy's best major of the season, but he isn't going to be a top contender.

Round-by-Round Predictions

Thursday: 68

Friday: 70

Saturday: 71

Sunday: 69

Total: 278 or two under par