The Open Championship 2013: Complete Predictions for Golf's Biggest Names

Links golf is as unpredictable as sport gets. The tricky rough, undulating fairways and howling wind combine to make it a bit of a lottery.

Even if you’re six shots off the lead heading into the final round, there’s still a great chance you could walk away with the claret jug—as demonstrated last year when Adam Scott capitulated to hand Ernie Els the title.

The question is whether golf’s biggest names can rise to the challenge when the British Open gets underway on Thursday. Let’s take a look.

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods continues to be installed as favourite for the various major championships, but for one reason or another—whether it’s a misfiring putter or controversial illegal drop—he has not won a major since 2008.

But the 14-time major winner still fancies his chances. “Even though I haven't won a major in five years I've been in a bunch of them where I've had chances. I just need to keep putting myself there and eventually I'll get some,” he said, as reported by BBC Sport.

Woods has been grouped with Graeme McDowell and 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, and the three of them should spur each other on to sail under the cut and be right in the mix.

Prediction: Top five. Missed birdie opportunities on the final day will cost the three-time Open champion.  

Phil Mickelson

It’s fair to say Phil Mickelson has endured some tough moments on links courses over the years, but the American now believes he is ready to claim his maiden British Open, according to Mark Tallentire of The Guardian.

The 2011 runner-up has enjoyed a solid enough year and is confident the course will play to his strengths.

“I would say that Muirfield and Troon would offer me the two best chances [of winning an Open] because of the way the holes move,” said Mickelson, as reported by Tallentire. “It's very comfortable for me off some of the tees, getting the ball in play, as well as around the greens. I like it here a lot.”

Prediction: Narrowly makes cut but struggles to make inroads on the leaders as the links course continues to haunt him.

Rory McIlroy

McIlroy has endured a torrid year. After winning the 2012 U.S. PGA Championship, he was expected to take the golfing world by storm, reeling off major after major and cementing himself as one of the game’s all-time greats.

That hasn’t happened. Instead, he’s failed to win a tournament in 2013, and his form ahead of the Open has been very shaky.

Yet the bookies still rate McIlroy around 25-1, behind only Woods, Mickelson and U.S. Open champion Justin Rose, and if he can string a decent opening round together, he is more than capable of blowing the competition apart—highlighted by his opening-round 63 at St Andrews in 2010 that announced him on the world stage.

Prediction: Misses cut. Something’s clearly not right in McIlroy’s head, and he will struggle in Scotland.

 

Tournament Prediction

Luke Donald is the player to back. He wasn't far off at the U.S. Open or last year’s Open Championship, and it’s about time an Englishman lifted the claret jug again.