Rory McIlroy and 11 Players Everyone Will Be Rooting for at the British Open

The 2011 golf season is flying past us. 

We are only a week away from the year's third major. 

This year, the British Open will take place at Royal St. George's. Last time the venue held the Open, Ben Curtis came out of nowhere to win.

Will a relatively no-name win this year's tournament? Or will Rory McIlroy prove to all he is here for a long time?

We will all find out shorty. But for now, here are 12 guys we would love to see hoist the British Open trophy.  

Rory McIlroy

By now we all know what Rory McIlroy did at the 2011 U.S. Open. That win combined with the grace and dignity he displayed after his collapse at the 2011 Masters, won Rory a legion of fans that will not leave his stable anytime soon.

Last year at the British Open, Rory shot a second round 80 and still finished tied for third. He clearly has the talent to win this thing.

And now with the entire world behind him, there is simply no reason for him not to win his first British Open trophy. 

Phil Mickelson

Everyone loves Phil Mickelson. 

From his ear to ear grin to his out going nature, there isn't much not to like about Phil.

Unfortunately, his game has fallen on hard times recently. And in a time most expected him to step up in the absence of Tiger, he has faltered.

It is rumored he has been altering his putting stroke in hopes of performing better at Royal St. George's. To be truthful, however, Phil needs to find a way to keep the ball in play.  

David Toms

It would be a great story if David Toms won this year's British Open.

In recent years. Toms has struggled with the game. It was no longer fun for him to be on the road and away from his family. 

Then his teenage son started playing with him and he rediscovered why he loved the game in the first place.

Toms has seen results this year. Losing one tournament in a playoff and notching his first victory in a very long time just a week later.

The one-time major champion would win the hearts of the world if he found a way to pull the upset across the pond. 

Tom Watson

Tom Watson nearly did the impossible in 2009 British Open at Turnberry. He turned back the clock for four rounds and then his putter betrayed him in the playoff with Stewart Cink.

Watson also just became the oldest major winner in Champions Tour history at the age of 61 in the Senior PGA Championship. 

His game is still sharp and the fans still love him. If his putter gets hot, Watson could go down in history and win the British at the ripe old age of 61. 

Graeme McDowell

Graeme McDowell rushed into the mind of many American golf fans during his victorious display at the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. 

When he stood around to watch fellow countryman Rory McIlroy win this year's U.S. Open, McDowell won even more fans. 

He is a nice guy, with a great attitude. It would be great to see him win his second major. 

Sergio Garcia

Remember when Sergio Garcia was chasing his ball down the fairways at the PGA Championship. That was a long 12 years ago and it seems like a lifetime.

Since then, we have yet to see Garcia fulfill his potential and even seen him take a break from the game to become recommitted and refocused. 

It would be great to finally see Garcia win a big one. His putter is always the question as he remains one of the game's best ball strikers. 

Luke Donald

Luke Donald's best finish in the British Open is a fifth place showing in 2009. 

Since then, we have seen his game only improve to the point where he is now the No. 1 player in the world.

He is a great guy who seems more than willing to interact with fans. Not one of the game's longest hitters, Donald will need to rely on his stellar short game to have a shot at Royal St. George's. 

Steve Stricker

At 44 years of age, Steve Stricker's window of winning a major is closing very quickly. 

He still has the talent to win one, and I think he may be able to surprise us all at Royal St. George's. 

Stricker won the PGA Tour comeback player of the year in back to back years, something even he cannot understand. 

He is playing in this week's John Deere Classic on the PGA Tour and then flying across the pond in hopes of finally winning a major. 

Jason Day

If Rory McIlroy turns out to be a Tiger-esque player, Jason Day could play the role of Mickelson. 

He will win majors, it just may only occur in the majors Rory does not have his best stuff. Day is a great young player with loads of talent.

He does not have much experience in the British Open, with last year being his first appearance. But he showed in the 2010 PGA Championship he is not afraid to put himself in contention when the tournament is on the line. 

Louis Oosthuizen

Louis Oosthuizen came out of no where to win last year's British Open.

This year, Shrek, his lovely nickname, is hoping to repeat his performance and prove to the world he is here to stay.

Oosthuizen is playing in the John Deere Classic to warm up for the British Open to fulfill his dream of riding a huge tractor and touring a tractor factory. 

Hey, whatever works.

Nick Watney

All of America wants an American golfer to win to show the world we are not going away quietly. 

Nick Watney is the best chance for America.

He is coming off a win at the AT&T National, providing him with much needed momentum heading to the British Open.

Matt Kuchar

Golf's "Mr. Consistent," Matt Kuchar is a lovable player who always seems to be smiling.

With only three career victories, Kuchar always seems to be good but not great.

At the British if he is good for four rounds, he will have a very solid chance at winning. It would be a big boost for American golf and an even bigger boost for his reputation.