British Open penpix at Royal Liverpool

16 July 2014 12:16

Penpix of leading contenders at the 143rd Open championship which starts on Thursday at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club.

Tiger Woods (USA)

Age - 38

World ranking - 7

- Won the 2006 Open at Royal Liverpool, the 12th of his 14 majors, but a three-month layoff following back surgery in 2014 and a missed cut on his return at the PGA National leave doubts hanging over the form of the former world number one. Has gone six years since his last major victory at the 2008 US Open.

Rory McIroy (NIR)

Age - 25

World ranking - 8

- Won his first EPGA tournament in 18 months when he lifted the PGA Championship in May after trailing by seven shots coming into the final round. Endured a well publicised breakup with tennis star Caroline Wozniacki on the eve of that victory but was well off the pace at the US Open where he finished tied for 23rd. Highest finish at the Open was third in 2010 but missed the cut last year at Muirfield.

Adam Scott (AUS)

Age - 33

World ranking - 1

- Took over the world number one spot in May, only the second Australian since Greg Norman in 1998, and won his 11th PGA Tour victory at the Colonial one week later to solidify his position. Only major win was at the 2013 Masters and memorably collapsed at the 2012 Open when he blew a four shot lead with four holes to play, handing the title to South African Ernie Els.

Justin Rose (ENG)

Age - 33

World ranking - 3

- Became the first Englishman to win the US Open since Tony Jacklin in 1970 when he romped to glory in 2013 at Merion. Born in Johannesburg, he peaked at world number three the same year but hasn't finished in the top ten at the Open since 1998 when he was tied for fourth as low amateur at the age of 18. Won the Quicken Loans National at the end of June and followed that with victory at the Scottish Open in Aberdeen, a rare double which restored him to world number three.

Bubba Watson (USA)

Age - 35

World ranking - 4

- The big-hitting left hander eased to his second Masters triumph by three strokes in April and reached a career high world number three in 2014. Has never finished in the top 20 at the Open in five appearances and missed the cut twice. All of his six PGA victories have come on American soil.

Phil Mickelson (USA)

Age - 44

World ranking - 13

- Became the first player to win the Open championship just one week after winning the Scottish Open in 2013, his fifth career major. That three shot victory over world number two Henrik Stenson was the last of his 42 career victories. Also finished second in 2011 at the Open and third in 2004 behind eventual champions Darren Clarke and Todd Hamilton respectively. Tied for 11th at his last warmup event in the defence of his Scottish Open crown, eight shots behind Justin Rose.

Henrik Stenson (SWE)

Age - 38

World ranking - 2

- The highest ranked Swedish golfer of all time at world number two, Stenson came closest to a maiden Grand Slam victory at last year's Open when he finished alone in second, three shots behind Phil Mickelson. Also finished in a tie for third in 2008 and 2010 at the Open and fourth at this year's US Open behind runaway champion Martin Kaymer. Missed out on a first Tour win in 2014, on the eve of Royal Liverpool, when he lost the BMW International Open in a playoff.

Matt Kuchar (USA)

Age - 36

World ranking - 5

- The affable American is one of the most consistent players on the circuit and was the PGA's leading money winner in 2012. Came closest to winning a major that season when he was tied for the lead at the Masters going into the back nine before settling for third behind Bubba Watson. Picked up the last of his 11 professional wins in April when he edged England's Luke Donald by a shot at the RBC Heritage.

Sergio Garcia (ESP)

Age - 34

World ranking - 9

- The four-time Ryder Cup winner is on track to appear at his seventh biennial tournament for Europe in September and won for the first time since 2011 in January when he triumphed at the Qatar Masters in a playoff. Finished second at the 1999 USPA, when just 19, and second again in 2008 at the same tournament. He equalled his best major finish in 2007 when he was runner-up at the Open behind Irishman Padraig Harrington at Carnoustie.

Martin Kaymer (GER)

Age - 29

World ranking - 12

- Became the first non-British European to win the US Open in June when he stormed to an eight shot victory at Pinehurst. A former world number one, the Dusseldorf right hander memorably sunk the putt which retained the 2012 Ryder Cup when Europe came back from 10-6 down on the final day to win the 'Miracle at Medinah'. His best finish at the Open was a tie for seventh in 2010.

Source: AFP