Which English Star Could Break Through and Win a First Major at St. Andrews?

Of the Englishmen teeing it up at this British Open (or Open Championship) in Scotland, five stand out as potential contenders for the Claret Jug. 

We're limiting our list to England proper, so golfers such as Jamie Donaldson (Wales), Martin Laird (Scotland) and Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland) aren't included. 

We'll look at past play at St. Andrews, recent performance and a few key stats to tell you which of these five English stars have a shot at winning the season's third major.

Click through to find out. 

Paul Casey

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Past play at St. Andrews: 2000: DNP; 2005: CUT; 2010: T3

Recent starts: U.S. Open: T39; Travelers Championship: 2; Greenbrier Classic: T37

Key stat: Greens in regulation: 71.69 percent (fifth on tour)

Could he win? 

The chief item in Paul Casey's favor is his performance last time the Open Championship was held at St. Andrews: a tie for third in 2010. He also was a near-winner at the Travelers Championship recently. His deficient sand play and lackluster short game, however, could hamper him at the Old Course. 

Luke Donald

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Past play at St. Andrews: 2000: CUT; 2005: T52; 2010: T11

Recent starts: FedEx St. Jude: T29; U.S. Open: T58; Travelers Championship: T7

Key stat: Sand save percentage: 64.56 percent (fifth on tour)

Could he win? 

Now the No. 66 golfer in the world, Luke Donald hasn't been compelling from tee to green this season. What's worse, his normally impressive putting hasn't been top-tier. He's 83rd in strokes gained: putting (.125), down from seventh on tour last year. He'll need to buck these trends to have a chance. 

Ian Poulter

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Past play at St. Andrews: 2000: T64; 2005: T11; 2010: T60

Recent starts: The Players: T30; Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial: T5; U.S. Open: T54

Key stat: Strokes gained: total: 1.062 (17th on tour)

Could he win? 

Ian Poulter hasn't teed it up since the U.S. Open, so he has to be well rested as he tees it up at the Scottish Open this week.

His strokes gained: total metric points to the quality of his play this season, and he has a good showing at St. Andrews (T11: 2005) and has been solid in recent starts. Keep an eye on Poults, as you know he'll be amped for this competition.    

Lee Westwood

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Past play at St. Andrews: 1995: T96; 2000: T64; 2005: CUT; 2010: 2

Recent starts: Irish Open: 53; U.S. Open: 50; French Open: CUT

Key stat: Strokes gained: total: 1.071 (16th on tour)

Could he win? 

As has been the case in seemingly every major for the past decade, Lee Westwood has the tee-to-green game to win. What has held him back, historically, has been his putting. Westy was 168th on tour in strokes gained: putting as recently as 2013.

This season, however, he's been comparatively good with the flatstick, picking up .256 strokes on the field average with it (51st on tour). A second-place finish at St. Andrews in 2010 is definitely a feather in his Ping Golf hat as well. 

Stats via PGATour.com

Justin Rose

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Past play at St. Andrews: 2000: DNP; 2005: DNP; 2010: CUT

Recent starts: BMW PGA Championship: 38; the Memorial: 2; U.S. Open: 27

Key stat: Total driving: 109 (12th on tour)

Could he win? 

Yes. Justin Rose already has a major (2013 U.S. Open), but a win at St. Andrews would see him break through to an even more rarified territory, that of the multiple major winner. 

Plus, Justin Rose is the Englishman with the best all-around game right now. He's also playing reasonably well with cuts made in his last three starts and a near-win at the Memorial. His record at St. Andrews isn't impressive, but at seventh in the Official World Golf ranking, he's a cut above the other players on this list.