Cam Cole’s Open picks

Judging by 15 different winners of the last 15 major championships, it may be foolish to pick one of the household names to win The Open Championship. Then again, they’re due. Here are 10 to watch, anyway, just in case:

1. Lee Westwood: Come hell or high water, or this week maybe both, he hangs around and gives himself a chance.

2. Padraig Harrington: Hasn’t been poor-mouthing his game too much lately, and played well at the Irish Open.

3. Rory McIlroy: Most players would take his “slump.” He may be getting ready to make another run at No. 1.

4. Tiger Woods: Could win, could miss the cut. Doesn’t seem to be any happy medium these days, but the win is the better bet.

5. Steve Stricker: It’s not the John Deere Classic, but cold

weather is nothing new for a guy from Wisconsin.

6. Francesco Molinari: Hard to win back-to-back weeks (and he finished second in France in his previous start), but the Scottish Open winner has tons of game.

7. Phil Mickelson: Says he’s figured out how to play links golf. Has he ever been wrong before?

8. Graeme McDowell: Tenacious, and can hole putts, and that’s what it’s going to take to stay the course at Lytham.

9. Fredrik Jacobson: Got a good feeling about the Swedish baritone with the workmanlike swing.

10. David Duval: Haha, just

kidding ...

10. Sergio Garcia: Not to win, of course, just to get close on Sunday before shooting 75.