The main contenders
AFP SPORTS looks at how golf’s big guns are shaping up ahead of the start of the 2017 British Open. DUSTIN JOHNSON (USA) Age - 33 World ranking: 1 Major titles: 1 (2016 US Open) The big-hitting 33year-old (caricature) won his first major at the US Open last year but has performed poorly in recent majors, missing the cut at the 2016 PGA Open)
The Texan does not turn 24 until the end of the month and has already packed a remarkable amount of success into his young career. Victory at the Travelers Championship last month allowed him to match Tiger Woods in reaching double digits for tour wins by such a young age. However, his two major titles to date came back to back in 2015 and he has struggled to match those achievements since coming second at last year’s Masters after blowing a five-shot lead on the final day. He was tied for 35th in the US Open at Erin Hills. RORY MCILROY (NIR) Age - 28 World ranking - 4 Major titles: 4 (2011 US Open, 2014 British Open, 2012 and 2014 US PGA Championship)
The last Open at Birkdale was won by a golfer from across the Irish Sea in Padraig Harrington, so McIlroy will be hoping that is an omen. The only time he has got his hands on the Claret Jug so far came three years ago just the other side of Liverpool at Hoylake, but his form coming into this year’s championship is not the best. Hasn’t won in 2017 and, while he came tied seventh at Augusta in April, he missed the cut at the US Open. Also missed the cuts at the recent Irish Open, which he hosted at Portstewart, and at the Scottish Open. HENRIK STENSON (SWE) Age - 41 World ranking - 8 Major titles: 1 Open)
Stenson waited until he was 40 before winning a major in thrilling fashion at Troon a year ago. Now his challenge is to become the first man since Padraig Harrington, at Birkdale nine years ago, to successfully defend the Claret Jug. The Swede is yet another big name coming into the championship on the back of some patchy form though, having missed the cut at both majors so far in 2017. “Even though it was the best year of my career last year, I felt it was well timed, as well. I played my best at a few events that really mattered. I’m kind of working on that, trying to get that consistency back. Whether it’s going to be good enough this week or not, I can’t tell you,” he said. – AFP (2016 British