2012 British Open Preview



The annual trip across the pond for Major Championship golf takes place this week. Royal Lytham and St. Anne's in Lancashire, England will be the host for 141st Open Championship. Lytham is a links course that will be sure to have plenty of tests. It is an unorthodox course that features 3 Par 3's on the front 9. Lots of wind and sand awaits the world's best players. It's been awhile since this course has hosted an Open. To put it in perspective, David Duval won the last Open played here and was at the top of his game back in 2001. Duval will be amongst the 139 men trying to take home the Claret Jug this week. As a shock to nobody, Tiger Woods is the oddsmakers favorite coming in to the tournament at 5 to 1. He is followed by Europeans, Rory McIlroy (8 to 1) and Lee Westwood (12 to 1). This is by far the most unpredictable of the 4 majors, because weather is such a key factor. Here is a look at my favorites to walk away drinking from the Claret Jug on Sunday.



1. Lee Westwood - England (12 to 1)

World Golf Ranking: 3rd

Best British Open Finish: 2nd (2010)

Average 2012 Score: 70.36

2. Adam Scott - Australia (40 to 1)

World Golf Ranking: 13th

Best British Open Finish: 8th (2006)

Average 2012 Score: 71.03

3. Phil Mickleson - USA (20 to 1)

World Golf Ranking: 16th

Best British Open Finish: 2nd (2011)

Average 2012 Score: 70.43

4. Louis Oosthuizen - South Africa (40 to 1)

World Golf Ranking: 18th

Best British Open Finish: 2010 Champion

Average 2012 Score: 70.94

5. Retief Goosen - South Africa (80 to 1)

World Golf Ranking: 65th

Best British Open Finish: 5th (2005, 2009)

Average 2012 Score: 71.55

6. Luke Donald - England (15 to 1)

World Golf Ranking: 1st

Best British Open Finish: 5th (2009)

Average 2012 Score: 70.68

7. Padraig Harrington - Ireland (20 to 1)

World Golf Ranking: 59th

Best British Open Finish: 2007, 2008 Champion

Average 2012 Score: 70.37

9. Jason Dufner - USA (40 to 1)

World Golf Ranking: 7th

Best British Open Finish: Missed Cut

Average 2012 Score: 69.93

10. Kevin Na - USA (150 to 1)

World Golf Ranking: 49th

Best British Open Finish: 27th (2010)

Average 2012 Score: 70.71

Prediction - I am taking Lee Westwood to finally win his 1st major. Westwood has been as consistent as they come. But with no majors under his belt, he is consistently mentioned as one of the best players to never win a major. That is not a title he wants to have. Westwood always plays well in majors, though he missed the cut at last year's British Open. Tiger and Rory are favored in Vegas, but Tiger has yet to prove he can play 4 solid rounds in a major and McIlroy has not played his best golf since winning the 2011 US Open. I will take Westwood to become a major champion in front of his fellow countrymen.