This week's field includes:
- The field includes includes 47 of the top 50 in the latest Official World Golf Rankings. Those missing are Shingo Katayama, Jose Maria Olazabal and Tim Clark
- The field includes 24 of the top 25 of this years PGA Tour money list. The one not at the British is Woody Austin.
- The field includes 13 past champions: Tiger Woods (2006, '05 & '00), Todd Hamilton (2004), Ben Curtis (2003), Ernie Els (2002), Paul Lowrie (1999), Mark O'Meara (1998), Justin Leonard (1997), Tom Lehman (1996), John Daly (1995), Nick Faldo (1992 '90 & '87), Mark Calcavecchia (1989), Sandy Lyle (1985) and Tony Jacklin (1969).
A perfect way for fantasy golfers to check on the past performance of all the players in the British Open are these performance charts, one with the players listed alphabetically and the other with the players listed by average finish.
One last way to check who is the best is through a special formula worked out in Golfstats that gives us the best average performances at the British Open in the last five years.
Time to look at our who's hot and who isn't:
| Who's Hot: (Those with *** are in the British Open field) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Deere | AT&T | Buick | Travelers | U.S. Open | St.Jude | Memorial | Colonial | AT&T | Players | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ***Jim Furyk | DNP | T3 | T5 | DNP | T2 | DNP | T23 | T2 | DNP | T28 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Angel Cabrera | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | Win | DNP | DNP | DNP | Cut | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Tiger Woods | DNP | T6 | DNP | DNP | T2 | DNP | T15 | DNP | DNP | T37 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***David Toms | DNP | DNP | DNP | T6 | T5 | 3 | DNP | T18 | T30 | T64 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***K.J. Choi | DNP | Win | DNP | DNP | Cut | DNP | Win | T24 | DNP | T23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Hunter Mahan | DNP | T8 | DNP | Win | T13 | T17 | DNP | Cut | T68 | Cut | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brandt Snedeker | T32 | T8 | T10 | DNP | T23 | T5 | Cut | T29 | DNP | T12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Scott Verplank | DNP | DNP | T5 | DNP | T7 | T8 | DNP | T7 | DNP | T44 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Vijay Singh | DNP | T12 | DNP | DNP | T20 | T30 | T15 | DNP | DNP | T44 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Carl Pettersson | 5 | DNP | DNP | T15 | T17 | DNP | T31 | T52 | DNP | T28 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Jerry Kelly | DNP | T45 | DNP | T15 | T7 | DNP | T45 | T7 | DNP | T28 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Steve Stricker | DNP | 2 | DNP | DNP | T13 | DNP | Cut | T24 | DNP | T52 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Woody Austin | DNP | Cut | T2 | T43 | Cut | Win | T45 | Cut | DNP | Cut | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ###Tim Clark | 2nd | DNP | DNP | DNP | T17 | DNP | DNP | T12 | Cut | T68 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Nick O'Hern | DNP | Cut | DNP | 3 | T23 | DNP | T31 | T52 | DNP | T28 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Jonathan Byrd | Win | Cut | DNP | Cut | DNP | DNP | Cut | Cut | T9 | T16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Niclas Fasth | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T4 | DNP | DNP | DNP | Cut | Cut | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ###Kenny Perry | T11 | DNP | T10 | T15 | DNP | DNP | T3 | Cut | Cut | T58 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Stewart Cink | DNP | DNP | DNP | T75 | Cut | DNP | T5 | T18 | T24 | T3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Staurt Appleby | DNP | T3 | DNP | Cut | T26 | Cut | T51 | DNP | DNP | T16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Nathan Green | T3 | DNP | DNP | DNP | Cut | T72 | T41 | T5 | DNP | T16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Tom Lehman | DNP | DNP | T20 | T6 | DNP | DNP | T45 | T5 | DNP | T23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Justin Rose | DNP | T30 | DNP | T9 | T10 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Who's Not Hot: (Those with *** are in the British Open field, Those with ### are in Milwaukee) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Player | Deere | AT&T | Buick | Travelers | U.S. Open | St. Jude | Memorial | Colonial | AT&T | Players | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ###Johnson Wagner | CUT | CUT | T64 | CUT | Cut | CUT | DNP | CUT | CUT | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ###Kyle Reifers | CUT | DNP | CUT | WD | DNP | CUT | Cut | Cut | Cut | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ###David Branshaw | DNP | CUT | CUT | T65 | DNP | CUT | DNP | DNP | Cut | Cut | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Greg Owen | Cut | T62 | T52 | CUT | DNP | DNP | CUT | Cut | Cut | Cut | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ###Jarrod Lyle | Cut | DNP | CUT | CUT | DNP | CUT | DNP | DNP | Cut | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ###Matt Hendrix | Cut | DNP | CUT | CUT | DNP | Cut | DNP | DNP | CUT | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ###Ryan Palmer | Cut | Cut | DNP | DNP | CUT | CUT | T45 | 70 | CUT | T75 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Todd Hamilton | Cut | 73 | CUT | DNP | Cut | CUT | 66 | WD | DNP | T75 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ###Tom Byrum | T41 | DNP | CUT | CUT | Cut | Cut | DNP | Cut | Cut | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jim Rutledge | T71 | DNP | CUT | CUT | DNP | CUT | DNP | DNP | Cut | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Who to Watch for at the British Open:
Best Bets:
| Ernie Els | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | T34 | 2 | T18 | Win | T3 | T2 | T24 | T29 | T10 | T2 |
Hasn't played well in over a year but has shown signs of life. It's something that has been on his mind since losing the playoff to Todd Hamilton three years ago, he want's to return to the top of the world stage and it seems everything is pointed in the right direction.
| Tiger Woods | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Win | T9 | T4 | T28 | T25 | Win | T7 | 3 | T24 | T22 |
Everyone's favorite for good cause, runner-up twice this year in majors, plays the best on the toughest venue's. His driving still worries me, I just think that he won't be able to get away with it and use irons like last year. If he solves the driving mystery he will lap the field.
| Jim Furyk | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Cut | Cut | Cut | Cut | Cut | T41 | T10 | T4 | 4 | T44 |
He is ready for a win, comes to a course that he has played well in back in 1999. On top of that the greens are perfect and probably the fastest speed that has ever been seen on a British Open course. Look for a good week from him.
Best of the rest:
| Vijay Singh | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cut | T5 | T20 | T2 | Cut | T13 | T11 | Cut | T19 | T38 | T11 |
One of the big mystery's of life is why he hasn't been able to win a British Open. Yes game seems to be perfect for it, but it's never happened. On paper Carnoustie should be perfect for him and the way he drives it and hits lots of greens.
| Padraig Harrington | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cut | - | Cut | T22 | T5 | T37 | T20 | 29 | Cut | T5 | T18 |
Another of those players that you would think would dominate this event, he has gotten worst over the year instead of better. This year could be a bit different though, he quietly played in the Irish PGA Championship played at The European Club and won the event. That could be one of the toughest courses in the world and I hear that owner Pat Ruddy outdid himself in making it tough. Yes it may not of had the greatest field but winning and playing well on another links should help him
| Justin Leonard | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | T52 | T16 | Cut | T14 | Cut | T41 | T2 | T57 | Win | Cut |
Looking for a longshot of longshots, this past champion could be a great pick. Has worked hard on his game with Randy Smith and things are coming together, in a practice round he looked as great as he did in '97. You know that he would love to win on a course that he felt that he lost twice in 1999.
| Adam Scott | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T8 | T34 | T42 | Cut | Cut | T47 | Cut | - | - | - | - |
This could be a perfect course for him to finally win his first player. Scott's game is close on the major level, just have to get his mind working the right way during a major. Again, Carnoustie could be the answer for him
| Justin Rose | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | Cut | T22 | T30 | - | Cut | T4 | - | - |
Hard to believe that it's been ten years since he almost pulled off the feat of all feats by winning at Royal Birkdale. He would love to win in his adopted homeland, we thought his future was very bright a decade ago, it's time to make us all look at great prophets.
| Angel Cabrera | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Cut | - | T22 | Cut | Cut | Cut | T4 | - | T51 | - |
Would love to follow in Ben Hogan's shoes and win Oakmont and Carnoustie back to back. Has the game, he was just one shot away from the playoff in 1999. If he can do it at Oakmont, he can do it again this week.
Longshot's that could come through:
| Stephen Ames | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T41 | Cut | Cut | - | T69 | - | - | - | T24 | T5 | T55 |
Very good sources say his game is ready to go and place a pound or two on him.
Our be careful pick of the week:
| Phil Mickelson | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T22 | T60 | 3 | T59 | T66 | T30 | T11 | Cut | 79/td> | T24 | T40 |
My heart says that he can win but reality tells us that he can't. Not only is his record poor in this event, he has problems playing in poor weather, the forecast isn't the best for the week. Plus he again had a ugly finish on Sunday in Loch Lomond that makes you wonder about him on this tight course. But what changed by mind on him completely was walking into the Carnoustie Hotel breakfast room for a cup of tea and the only one in there was Phil. Now the thing that worries me about him is the fact that the air was thick with a smell of medicated rubbing oil and his arm looked very bare and raw like he had a big rubdown, I just don't think he is at 100% on the wrist yet.
Not a chance in the world selection:
| Sergio Garcia | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T5 | T5 | Cut | T10 | T8 | T9 | T36 | Cut | T29 | - | Cut |
There is no better Jeckel and Hyde player on tour than Garcia. You never know from week to week when he is going to play well. I just think there is too many bad memories from this place in 1999 when he shot 89-83 to be able to play well. Look for him not to be around on Sunday.
| Colin Montgomerie | ||||||||||
| 2006 | '05 | '04 | '03 | '02 | '01 | '00 | '99 | '98 | '97 | '96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T5 | T5 | Cut | T10 | T8 | T9 | T36 | Cut | T29 | - | Cut |
If you were playing the stock market on Colin I would sell him short, big time. Give him two shots this week, slim and none.
