British Open 2013: Top Players Most in Need of a Win

The British Open is underaway at East Lothian in Scotland, where the atmosphere is already buzzing for the championships.

Some of the best golfers in the world will grace the Muirfield course—one which Jack Nicklaus called “the best in Britain”—and the event comes at an important point in the calendar year for some of the less-than-convincing performers on hand.

Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy is under fire from some of his opponents and looks to be in strong need of a confidence-boosting victory in Scotland.

Urged to focus more by Nick Faldo, as reported via BBC Sport, McIlroy’s game has been disrupted by missing key shots at important stages of tourneys. Normally so flexible in his range of shots, he has rarely looked like the same player.

The 24-year-old’s PGA Championships victory in 2012 catapulted McIlroy to new heights and relative stardom within the sport. He was the pin-up boy for golf majors, but has since been brought back down to earth.

This year, McIlroy has seen his performances drop in a fall to 25th in the world rankings, as he has been struggling to regain consistency in his game. The Brit had decided to switch to Nike clubs in the hope of seeing an impact in his shots, but it only led to a rift between him and Faldo.

His heavily scrutinised relationship with tennis star Caroline Wozniacki has been the main issue, surrounding much of his criticism. McIlroy returns to Muirfield this week, hoping to pick up his first victory since his PGA triumph last year.

McIlroy’s countryman, Graeme McDowell, comes to Muirfield with a very good record at this course, yet could be under the microscope after missing the cut at the 2013 U.S. Open.

Given that he won the tournament two years prior, McDowell’s failure to reach the main stages came as a surprise to many. But in the last fortnight, the 33-year-old looks to be back on the right track with a win at the Alstrom Open in France, finishing four shots ahead of South African Richard Sterne.

McDowell missed the Scottish Open, won by Phil Mickelson, as part of his preparation for the British Open this week. He is focusing on continuing his winning ways, as he noted to Sky Sports, "It hasn't really been as bad as it's read. I have felt fairly decent with my game most of the year."

It couldn’t really be regarded as a surprise victory should McDowell come out on top at East Lothian, although it will be a test of the Northern Irish golfer's mettle. McDowell will have a lot of competition for the Claret Jug.

Muirfield looks to be an ideal stage for one of several British golfers to pick up the nation's first home major win in two years, including Luke Donald. Donald, though, has the pressure of trying to become the first Englishman to win a major championship since Faldo in 1996.

“There’s always more attention," Donald told Metro UK, "more requests of your time when you are world No.1 and that takes management and that’s tough.”

In the four golfing majors, Donald has failed to finish within the top three over the past six years, with his last time of finishing that high being a tie for third at both the 2005 Masters and 2006 PGA Championships.

Tiger Woods comes with the reputation of previous victories and is the overwhelming favourite to pick up the Claret Jug at Muirfield.

It won’t be smooth sailing for the American, however, as many well-supported British golfers look to regain their form and momentum on the PGA Tour over the next few days of the British Open.