2011 Claret Jug Holding Wannabes: A Sandwich Buffet from Darkhorses to Favorites

It might be a little awkward to grab a sandwich so early and sit back and ponder the players that have the best chance to win in Sandwich, England, the site of this year's OPEN Championship. Commonly referred to as the British Open, but when eating a sandwich, the fewest words possible - please.  

At a cursory glance, the bunkers at the Royal St. George's course pose a most daunting test for players the third week in July.  

With food on the mind, the players best suited to navigate this year's OPEN Championship are a buffet of young zeal, overachievers, and wily experience.  This appetizing glance has each player's beverage of choice that will wind up in the Claret Jug.

Let's start with the dark-horses...Or, David's...Or, VCU's...Or, TCU's...Or....

LONGSHOTS 

Dustin Johnson

USA

He has the power game to cut through the teeth of the grizzly wind, and the kind of bounce back attitude to show a Northern Ireland player (Rory) or two (Graeme) that he has game.  

He bounced back from the 82 at Pebble Beach only to be victimized by a questionable stretch of earth at the PGA.  And we all know that Royal St. George's is going to have questionable earth. He didn't get a good lie then and he won't this time around.  

Getting him off American soil and the in your face expectations Mickelson and the American media are heaping on his plate might help.

Major Divot: His putting needs to be steady.

Beverage of Choice in the Claret Jug: Sweet Tea.

Matteo Manassero

Italy

Just when you thought it safe to think the major winner's couldn't get any younger.  

Have a slice of this Italian's game.  He can shape shots, he has a great track record in European events, and he finished 7th at St. Andrews in 2010.  He also won the Maybank Malaysian Open earlier this year.  

And he has an attitude—something along the lines of what we saw from Justin Rose back at the OPEN in 1998.

Major Divot: He's only 18-years old.

Beverage of Choice: Red wine. C'mon, he's from Italy, where the drinking age is 18.

Louis Oosthuizen

South Africa

Yes, he won the Open Championship last year.  But just look at the road kill from other first time major winners and post major challenges.  

He was walking with Charl Schwartzel during a practice round at Congressional when  Schwartzel looked at him and said the diversions are enormous. Oosthuizen simply nodded and said, "I told you."

He's got a chance, just not in the favorites category. However, he was the first player in the Chubby Chandler Slam (sandwich coming to a pub near you), and the agent serving Oosthuizen also handles Schwartzel and Mcllroy—and that deserves some noteworthiness. 

Major Divot: His precision tee box game needs to return.

Beverage of Choice in the Claret Jug:  Champagne.

CONTENDERS

Davis Love III

USA

There is something in the air at every major for a yesterday special.  Why not this vintage golfing chap, the 2012 American Ryder Cup captain? 

He showed his mettle at Congressional, loves the links, and he's so close to making us forget that his alma mater needs a mulligan when it comes to football recruiting.  His spectacular play in the U.S. Open is a fountain of confidence

Major Divot:  He's 47.

Beverage of Choice in the Claret Jug: Lemonade.

Phil Mickelson

USA

He has never been a factor in the British Open, until this year.  Just when Mickelson seems like he's falling off the world golf map is when lefty doglegs into contention.  

Here is four reasons why he will play with mustard at Sandwich. He won't be starting on arguably the hardest hole (10th at Congressional) to begin his quest.  He has competitive bones that were rattled by the Rory records.  He has just plain Bones (on his bag).  And his short game out of the bunkers is a necessity and a weapon.

Major Divot:  The errant tee ball, it doesn't matter which driver he uses.

Beverage of Choice in the Claret Jug: Arnold Palmer.  

Luke Donald

England

He attended Northwestern, so he is somewhat Americanized.  But he did ascend the world rankings as a Brit and still has an accent, so some slack is needed.  

He knows how to contend and has managed top 20 finishes in the OPEN Championship the last two years.  But does he know how to finish?  

Donald would be as popular a champion as Lee Westwood. Wouldn't it be something if he wields a tremendous iron game in the wind, rain, and sleet? It might earn him a nickname like the mailman—only if the conditions are poor.

Major Divot: Zero majors.

Beverage of Choice in the Claret Jug: Milk. Something about endorsement money and players cashing in. Got Claret Jug.

FAVORITES

Graeme Mcdowell

Northern Ireland

The mentor can't allow the student to grab all the hardware, the Guiness and the Claret Jug before him.  His ball flight is better suited for the OPEN and if his putting returns, watch out.  He has been hovering around leader boards—that is how he won Pebble in 2010.  

Don't underestimate his desire, and grit.

Major Divot: Is at his best when he is under the radar. Now he's clearly on the radar.

Beverage of Choice in the Claret Jug: Two pints of Guiness. Er, make it three.

Lee Westwood

England

This whole youth movement must be gnawing at his soul.  At 38, Westy has returned to fitness, and if he finishes 2nd again, he might just eat a sandwich at Sandwich—and his visor.  

The Englishman has a propensity for clutch putting for three rounds.  Could this be the year?  It would be a popular win (see Luke Donald), and would further cloud the conversation about the world's top ranked player.  

Martin who?

Major Divot: The pressure of winning at home. Fourth round putting.

Beverage of Choice in the Claret Jug: champagne. 

Rory Mcllroy

Northern Ireland

Looking back at history proves that a one time major winner usually throws a shoe in their next major. But somehow this all feels a little different.  His high ball flight might cause him a grimace or two. And, at 22, there is a certainty that the party, which may run until his first round tee-time in mid-July. This kind of skulduggery might give the OPEN Championship a new nickname: Hangover 3.

Major Divot: He just won.

Beverage of Choice in the Claret Jug: Blue Bloody Mary. Why? Because blue is the new red, especially on Sunday.

Honorable Mentions:

Charl Schwartzel, Martin Kaymer, Ryo Ishikawa, and Jason Day.  British bookies must at least have Day as a favorite to PLACE.

Headlines to lookout for:

RORY ROBS MICKELSON'S MUSTARD ON SANDWICH GREENS

WESTY GOES SOUTH & WINS ROYALLY 

GRAEME CRACKERS MIGHT SANDWICH MAJORS

RORY HAS OPEN FACED SANDWICH ON MCILLRYE

ONE SANDWICH—TWO MAJORS