´óÏó´«Ã½

1. Rory, 2. Westwood, 3. Garcia.

My money is on Rory McIlroy to lift the trophy. He won the big one last time in USA, and so, no reason at all why he shouldn't do it again here.

I don't know about the so-called World No1 and No2, it only counts when you start winning the Big Ones, so Rory in my opinion could have lifted the previous one to his US triumph, but apparently something must have upset him on the third day to bring about his loss of form.

But he has come good since, so, GET IN THERE RORY !!

Going to be brave and pick an American to win a Major at last...

Matt Kuchar performed well at Castle Stuart last week and makes Putting looks too easy at times. Under-rated this side of The Atlantic, I think Kuchar stands a real chance of troubling the top of the leaderboard come Sunday afternoon.

Elsewhere, I would like to see someone like Matteo Mannassero have a good week, and suspect he might just. A certain major winner in years to come. He could plump up the verve to have a real run at The Open this week. Edoardo Molinari is also fantastic value at 150/1 too. A decent showing last week when defending The Scottish open title he won in 2010, The Italian has shown he can cope with links Golf.

Kuchar from Manassero, Donald and Molinari.

As a Nottingham lad, born and bred, I will never say anyone other than Lee Westwood to win, and that aint changing here today.

Come on Westy, be relentless and grind it out. 4 solid days, no duds. Do it.

Lee, Luke, Rory, Kuch, Poults - yes, all of those but The Open often throws up an unexpected winner - Watson nearly won it 2 years ago, Norman did brilliantly the year before...who was it beat Watson again? 2009 is the only year, I suspect, when everyone will remember the guy who was runner-up more easily than the victor.

My dark-horse choices: Jason Day, who just seems to love golf and laughed in Hawaii when he duffed a tee shot, before spanking a driver off the deck and rescuing a 4; and Francisco Molinari. If things go their way, they could be holding the Auld Mug aloft come Sunday.

Also, keep an eye on Manassero - he looks the business pretty much every time he sets out.

But I'd love to see a European and, even more a Brit. Come on the home boys!

Not quite related to this subject .... but the great Alex Hay died yesterday. For 26 years, along with Peter Alliss, he was the voice of Golf on the ´óÏó´«Ã½. I had the great pleasure of meeting Alex some years ago and he was one of lifes great gentlemen.

However, I can find no mention of Mr Hay passing on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ website ... anywhere. Shame on you ´óÏó´«Ã½

@5 Jason Day a dark horse ? he was runner up in the last 2 majors hardly a dark horse.

I really do hope this is Westwoods time he really deserves that major , wouldn't suprise me in the slightest to see Rory go back to back either.

number 7. you get what you deserve in sport, if he wins hes deserved it if he doesnt then clearly he wont have been good enough to win one! mcilroys done it already and hes 16 years younger than lee..

mcilroy to go back to back and spank the field again (hopefully) the english lads are up there but for sheer entertainment and all round genuine skill then mcilroy for me. come on rory

Don't discount Harrington - he could win again!. I know I may appear to be a little sentimental but there is logic and evidence to suggest he could get a hat-trick of British Open wins.

1 He's a proven British Open (twice) and US PGA Major Winner
2 14th place in Scotland in a quality field suggests he is there or there abouts
3 He says his practice is far better than his tournament results so far this season
4 He badly needs the world ranking points (and FedEx points) - he is best when his back is against the wall.

Apart from the above I have this feeling that it's going to be an Island of Ireland 1,2,3 of Harrington, McIlroy and McDowell. And wouldn't it be great to see those 'eyes' going down the back nine on Sunday evening!

SimonNZ, there is a tribute here:

Ken - Robert Rock is the (English) man. T7 last year at St Andrews, loves difficult conditions. Yes, a dark horse, but he can do the business, playing with confidence at the moment.

Jamie

Thanks for the link to the tribute to Alex Hay. Good tribute.

Having said that, I have scoured the Sport front page and the Golf page and I cannot find the link to this tribute. Well found I must say!

I do think the ´óÏó´«Ã½ could make this a bit more prominent in respect of the great man.

Sorry

Much as I would like to see a UK player I think an American is in for it. Steve Stricker is just fantastically on form.

Even though I am a diehard Rory and Ulsterman/fan who lived in Holywood for many years, I think the level of attention and demands may swing the favour elsewhere(although I sincerely think I am wrong).For a long time I have had a gut feeling this British Open is destined for an englishman, boy it is due and with donald,westwood,poults,rose,fisher ETC.... it is going to be an english open winner I sense.It is so hard in golf to nail the winner but I go westwood to win and fisher as a lively outsider.No-one would begrudge Lee and time is running out!!!

For me it is going to come down to a question of short game. With the nature of St. George's, it will not be a question of smooth driving down fairways and crisp irons onto greens, but rather unfortunate bounces and run off's. As Ken says above, Luke Donald, in his rich vein of form, is a wonderful short game player. Americans won't like this course, but don't discount a long-odds winner from anywhere. However, whoever beats Luke will win it.

"Graeme McDowell, here practising his putting on a Kentish green..."-what-with his caddy still wearing his Barclays Scottish Open bib???

Is Rory McIlroy playing in The Open? Haven't seen it mentioned anywhere on the ´óÏó´«Ã½?

Dark horse for the Open.......S Dyson, get on him!

I like Robert Rock as an each way bet - but I fancy a random winner... Stenson or Quiros maybe?
If Quiros is hitting it well, he's difficult to keep up with - I just doubt he'll keep it up for 4 days.

I think this is Westwood's time and that's where my money is going. He is going in the right direction - 3rd in 2009; 2nd in 2010 - and, now, 1st?? I think if he can just jog along for the first three rounds and go out, say, third/fourth from last group on Sunday he will have a great chance.

Others I like the look of? Jason Day - 40-1 on a player who has been runner up in both majors this year are odds you just can't turn down. And Sergio - back with a bang and with wind looking likely his shot-making could see him go close. He also was top 10 last time out at St George's - I know, because I followed him on the final round!

Agree with #6. Where's the article on the passing of Alex Hay? For those of us (which is a lot) grew up in the 80s and early 90s watching golf he was as much the voice of golf as Peter Alliss.
Bad way to treat the passing of one of your own ´óÏó´«Ã½! Not good!

16. ChasScoobs - good spot.

Come on ´óÏó´«Ã½ - it's your job. With the number of errors in recent blogs we might as well start watching Sky!

Must have taken you a while to choose them Ken!

I'm here at work just over a mile from the course. It's quite breezy & likely to get windier, probably going to rain as well.

So who do you all reckon are the best players is those conditions?

"Ken Brown picks his five most likely contenders...": 1. Luke Donald; 2. Lee Westwood; 3. Rory McIlroy; 4. Graeme McDowell; 5. Paul Casey; 6. Ian Poulter. Sorry, Ken, but that's a 'U' grade in your "counting up to six" GCSE.

Still, it's bettter than Graham Poll, who failed his "counting up to two" exam in the 2006 World Cup.

Ken really going out on a limb by tipping 6 golfers in the top 16 in the world. Also, 2 of them have already 'broken the UK major duck'. What a waste of the very little time he put into this article.

Watch out for Kaymer in my opinion, everyone is going for the form men but I don't see it going that way and in fact players like Kaymer, Mickelson and Rose who haven't been at there best are due performances and I just don't see it going with the form books. McIlroy and Donald are in wonderful form and wouldn't be surprised if they gave a top 10 finish as they rarely finish lower but I don't see them wininning it.

I watched the tribute to Alex Hay, thanks to Jamie as I'd never have found it otherwise. I was lucky enough to play a round of golf with Alex a few years ago.He left me 60ft from the 1st hole and I drained the putt. His reaction was just like his commentaries, restrained but spot on, no drama. He waited until the end of the round to give me one of the best pieces of golfing advice I have ever received.
An English winner please, even if it comes with a huge amount of luck, we're desperate.

I am hoping for a westwood win too. He has been close several times now and this might just be his week.
As I am from Belgium, what do you guys think of Nicolas Colsaerts? He is one of the most improved player on tour and I hope he does well this week.

How about Australia's Jason Day....he's been hot on McIlroy's heels lately ?

Leave poor Ken alone. Ye Brits need to be talked up as much as possible so the disappointment is even greater come Sunday evening. Is it annoying for English golf fans that other non English Brits have won majors now? I think there is a lot more pressure on the English contingent, especially Westwood, to land the jug. I predict a Scandanavian winner. A lot of the Sweds in good form and knocking on the door. Alexander Noren, Robert Karlson, Fredrick Jacobson.

Being a Scot, i am putting my money on Paul Lawrie, he has been showing some good form, and is a good wind player, for an outside bet, Scott Jamieson !!!

Its building up to be one of the most exciting british Opens in a long time. Alot of players on top form. After the Masters...the british Open is my next favourite tournament to watch.

Come on Luke Donald!

I do hope that the SIX players making up Ken Brown's team of top FIVE contenders do not share his mathematical skills when completing their scorecards.

Peter Hanson is a great EW shout at 80-1 - also like KJ Choi at 50's if the weather behaves.

Looks like Lee Westwood has prepared really well for The Open and is in the right frame of mind to win. Perhaps his Bioflow Sport wristband is helping his focus and fitness?

Lee Westwood has been in the proper frame of mind many times before and although he does great for 54 holes, he always falls away.

Im afraid I dont fancy Lee's chances at all. He's the new Monty...moodly and majorless.

Its Garcia for me, especially if its breezy the first few days...there is no better long iron player in the wind and his touch around the hard greens will be key...if he can keep his short putts in order...which he has improved recently...so its garcia to win it for Seve ....Kuchar 2nd Westwood 3rd....

Britains Luke Donald and Lee Westwood will definately be there come Sunday, then its down to who has the bottle. Their fellow country man Colin Montgomery came close to winning his national Open title in 1995 when he came 2nd.

Can Britains Luke or Lee go one better?

Likely OPEN result!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hanson Stricker Manassero.

Shame UK again again again. Might win when pigs can fly.

Cabrera and Harrington could be two to look out for perhaps... *might* just be Donald's year, Masters champ Schwarzel might be dangerous. All will be revealed over the next few days!

I genuniely hope Donald & Westwood are challenging on the final day. There's nothing better than the best challenging at the end. I think Carl Schwartzel looks in excellent nick though


In terms of value bets I'm plumping each way for:
Schwartzel 40/1
Cabrera (finished 2nd last week) 80/1
Jimenez 150/1

well, Schwartzel is a class player, he should be involved and Donald will be a threat too.

I do like to look of Karlsson's form coming into this tournament and Nick Watney is a fine golfer.

That's it for me!

Indeed. He didn't have to think that hard about it because there are 6 players in the top 16. Why doesn't he just go out his way and pick someone who is ranked 500th? It would completely defeat the purpose of the article. Unbelievable.

In saying that, I do find that whenever I look at the odds on majors I always search for the rank outside who could win me a bit of money (I am so far on a 100% losing streak). This year I fancy Paul Lawrie to have a good week. Strong finish last week and always seems to do okay round the links. At 250/1 it's not a bad e/w shout... though given my track record I'd recommend placing your money elsewhere.

I reckon it could be an outside bet. Goeff Ogilvy's my shout..

They were just talking about the player odds on The Open's Live Channel, which is pretty cool:

Chalkey, it might have escaped your attention but the last major was won by a UK player, you can be forgiven for not knowing this as it was barely reported in any of the major international sports media, Rory something I think they called him.

Have to agree with those dissing this article. Very lazy, standard cut and paste job. No regard given for course form , preferences.
Who'd have picked Mcdowell last year? 4th and 1st going into the US Open might have been a hint at some form, non?
How Casey makes the final 5/6 I don't know. Would rate Rose, Dyson and Lawrie over him easily. New boys Whiteford and Jamieson showing very well this year too. Doubt very much that Ken wrote such a vacuous piece.

There is only 1 winner here and his name is Phil Mikleson.. time to get back on to winning ways..

Please everyone stop taking rubbish odds with the bookies. Use oddschecker or the like to check prices available. Betfair will usually have the best price of anywhere if you can't be bothered to check. Anyone backing Jimenez at 150/1 when he's available at 290 shouldn't be betting.

would LOVE to see Garcia in amongst it sunday afternoon.... so pleased hes been improving recently at last! Also, Jason Day has got to be due a major soon- everytime you watch the golf on a major sunday - hes always there!

No disrespect to Ken, but they're hardly what you would call 'tips' as the headline imples though I guess that's probably not his fault. The top 6 British and Irish players in the world rankings would probably be a better way of putting it so it stands to reason that the most likely player to break the duck would come from that group - hardly rocket science.

Much as i'd like to see Westwood win I still think he has bottle issues and not sure how Rory will cope with the wind forecast or how that might affect Donald with his percieved lack of length. Of those listed I would give McDowell the best chance, so giving my own tipping record he's got no chance.

I dont think an American will win the british open this year...even tho they have dominated in the past I think there are too many great European players.
I think the winner will come from Britain or Ireland.

Donald, Westwood and Poulter have a great chance of making it a british winner but then with McIlroy, Harrington and McDowell they have a very strong chance of making it another Irish major winner.

Im so excited now I want it to kick off...ill be following the british open all day at work tomorrow. Cant wait.

So we are trumping the 4 englishmen then ? No problem with that, all extremely fine players but grand total of majors ? Errrrrrrrrr, sound of silence.

None of the 4 are wet behind the ears, they have been in the game long enough but I dont think their case is that solid. Opens, Woods apart, the fancied runners dont tend to live up to the hype.

Another winner from the "didnt reckon on him" area but whatever I hope the conditions are such that the course is not made a monkey of, heres to a riveting 4 days.

and remember Alex Hay................... he was a wonderful cohort to the master who is still commentating.

As ever Kens assessments of the relative merits of the players is spot on. Just a pity the article was spoiled by the casual racism of the opening paragraphs. Apparently a "home" winner will either be English or a UK resident. Twelve years into devolution and some people still aren't getting it.

I also agree with some of the comments about Alex Hay. A fine scholar of the game and an absolute gentleman. Shabbily treated by the ´óÏó´«Ã½. Twice now.

@ james mathews, stop posting your thoughts. They are making you seem like a proper fool. Writing off Westwood in 37, bigging him up in 39.
The scandalous use of British Open in 53 your worst crime. If there's more than one james mathews posting then I apologise for singling you out and suggest you both seek help.

ttwduke

Sorry if I seem to be contradicting myself but what I ment with Westwood is that I think he will certainly be there come Sunday but I dont think he has the bottle to close out a major. He might supprise us but its unlikely as he seems to be made of the same mould as his fellow country man Colin Montgomery.

I do think there will be a 'home' winner of this years british open and that is Luke Donald. Althought there is a great chance of another Irish major winner with Rory, Harrington and GMac all playing well.

@ ShellBunker Home winner obviously means someone from the UK or NI. Seems you are yet another Scotsman with a complex.

Agree with 1 or 2 others that Jason Day looks a good e/w bet at around 40-1 also Manassero could go well at around double those odds. Oh and "James Matthew" there is no such tournament as the "British Open" its the Open Championship.

Westwood
The flutter eachway on Scott and Schwartzel both over 50's

Maybe sneak a fiver each way on Sean O'Hair at 350/1

#59

Im sorry I dont mean to offend you its just what I have always known the british open to be called since it is played all around britain.
Just like the USOpen and US Masters, they get the prefix of the country they are played in.

I think your just trying to stirr me...lets all just enjoy the british open and hope its as exciting as we think it will be.

Watch out for Manaserro. He often plays short, sometimes low, so in gusty conditions he could be at an advantage. Playing the 'average' will win this one with the forecast possibly as it is.

39.At 11:06 13th Jul 2011, james mathew wrote:
Britains Luke Donald and Lee Westwood will definately be there come Sunday, then its down to who has the bottle. Their fellow country man Colin Montgomery came close to winning his national Open title in 1995 when he came 2nd.


Would that be the fellow countryman Colin Montgomery (from Scotland) of Westwood and Donald, who are from England????

No doubt that Rory will be in the mix at the open but I think one to watch will be Ernie. He is due a good showing and starting with Rory may get him back into matchplay mode.... the Big Easy

#64 simpa09

Was what I said wrong?
Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Colin Montmomery are all fellow country men being that they are all from Britain. Like they would all play together in the Olympics or have the same passport.

I dont see the issue?

@ james mathew

The reason The Open Championship is so called and not the 'British Open' is because the British invented the sport and set up the rules of the game and therfore get to name it the definitive article. No need to add British, all the other countries have to add their country as identification of their own events.

Same applies to the FA. There is no English FA as we inveneted it. FIFA hate us for it too... and I love it!

You may have always known it as the British Open but that does not make it correct, more perhaps that you have never been corrected.

I'm rooting for Adam Scott @ 60/1, but will be monitoring Justin Rose closely too, both have been playing really neat golf recently, should be great tourny !!

Having backed oosthuzien last year at 125/1 I thought I might give you all my tips to make a few quid. Top americans Bo van Pelt J Overton .Top euro T Olsen S Garcia I know he is only 5/1 for top euro but Garcia is a great place bet for the Open. Bo is one of the best ball stirkers on the pga tour Overton is very long and coped will in the wind Olsen after finishing second in France when it was blowing a hooley is some geart value.A couple of pennies in 4 e/w doubles will get you quite a return. Both Stricker and Mickelson to miss the cut would pay about 16/1.T aiken from SA is in with a squeak as is Sabbittini.But there is only one winner and you won`t make a fortune Rory at 8/1 outstanding price good luck all

Some of you clearly haven't read the article properly. Those fools giving Ken Brown stick with comments like "really going out on a limb Ken picking 6 in the top 16" or "you've only picked British players" - the clue is in the article title kids.

Ken 'on the course' Brown is a legend in broadcasting! We love you Ken.

Hi Everyone.

I'm off to Sandwich on Friday, so excited to be going to my first Open Championship....I tried to get there 8 years ago but my Mum put petrol in her hired diesel car, halfway to Kent, and tears ensued.

I've got a couple of cracking bets for those that are interested.

Sweden's Robert Karlsson, at a very generous 80-1 (with some bookmakers). I've got a feeling he's going to play very well this week after a very solid start to his season. He's got the game, a strong mentality, and I think he's owed a big championship.

And Ernie Els......at 85-1, far too good to refuse. I know his putting is a bit dodgy, but still, for a player of his stature and ability, that is fabulous value.

To be honest, as long as we get a British winner, I don't really care. And if that winner just happened to be Lee Westwood, I'd be delighted to lose all my money :)

#50 - I use highstreet bookies only, but your right oddscheck is quality and ive used it to get the best average for my picks.

Quite jealous of #71. I wish I was going! But i'm suprised its took 8 years to get the car fixed.........

And yes, a Brit winner would be fantastic.

Can Westwood go one better then his fellow country man Colin Montgomery did in 2005 and win the british open?

#73 James - now you're just trying to wind some people up!

#74

How am I? I'm getting really confused with some of the comments made of about my posts. In school I learned that Britain is a country? If im wrong then please correct me and I'll let the rest of the world know.

I wonder how many of these posts are argueing/commenting on what country players are from or not from, what the British Open/Open should be called. I've finally got to the end of this list, would have been a lot quicker without them. Saying that, this post is completely pointless also.

p.s. Go Westwood

75: Because you know that some people like to be factually correct and call it its proper name.

And also because you continually quote English majors winners in the last 40 years and refer to Rory as Irish rather than British. As far as I'm aware he can be either British or Irish depending on how he wants to be referred and has never answered his questions, probably because there are too many nut cases out there in the world that would make his life a misery either way.

methilmilan There is only one "OPEN" . McIlroy won an American copy.

Put you money on a Swede for the real one tomorrow.

Right. My tips for the All-English Open are the Midlander Westwood, followed by the Englander Poulter. I think the African Els has a chance and the Antipodian Day. Top Europeans might be Donald and Garcia. Don't rule out Yanks such as Stricker and Ulsterman McIlroy and Brit McDowell. There - happy now!

I would bet that an unfancied player will win the Open. Who would have thought that Oostheuizen would have won last year and Curtis would have won the last time it was played at Sandwich.

The wind is going to blow it appears according to the forecasts, and if it is windier in one half of the day compared to the other, that could effectively take out a lot of the big hitters in the unlucky half of the draw. One bad round is all it takes to take you out of the running (like McIlroy last year)

Whilst I like Rory and was really pleased for him to win the US Open I just don't understand the hype around him at this championships. Yes he's a great player and the manner of his win at Congressional was outstanding and I'm sure he'll win more majors, but the ´óÏó´«Ã½ have taken that victory and turned McIlroy into the dominant man in world golf when he is not (yet). I also don't know how well McIlroy will do this week, because he was blown away by the wind last year at St Andrews and with it going to be windy every day this year, he could struggle to challenge for the title. I expect him to easily make the cut but I think he'll be around top 20.

Not too sure about the criticism of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ further up the thread in relation to Alex Hay (RIP). I watched a tribute from Peter Alliss on one of the golf links and although it was short,it brought back memories of my childhood, sunday dinners & his infectious sense of humour and laugh.Also and this is a fact, the ´óÏó´«Ã½ website for golf is far more superior to any of the Sky Sports stuff as the blogs are current,busy with clued in people contributing! Also, throw in a wonderful Seve tribute with a gem of a bio-doc on Rory and it is self indulgence for a golf fan! No shame as far as I am concerned.Liking the tips and contrasts - Alberto Quiros??hahaha
If he wins I will streak around Oxford Street in mid winter.
An englishman,trust me (and I am Northern Irish who DOES NOT work for the ´óÏó´«Ã½)!!!

I'm concerned at McIlroys lack of competitive practise since winning the US Open. Why has he not played tournament golf since? This is all too typical of British sportsmen who win something big and then rest of their laurels, have a good time, party, get interviewed by everyone and forget to play. Tiger Woods went out after his first Grand Slam and played the very next tournament, and the next and the next. British golfers are just too pampered to do this. Westwood could win but he is not fit enough to play 4 rounds of hard golf.

Don`t care were Rory is from as long I collect off him again.

And #67 Joroda I think the Dutch or Germans might just disagree with you about were Golf was invented.Dont you just hate being corrected :)

Can't really argue with Ken's picks however, historically many of the past winners of The Open have been surprises such as Curtis, Daly, Cink, to name a few. So we need perhaps look for lesser well mamed people like Jason Day who has done very well in the last two majors and/or Cabrera who looked last week as if he has got the bit between his teeth in finishing third last week.

@84
Jason Day a lesser name??!
Number 7 in the world.
And Cink was due but he is a dull character and was totally overshadowed by the fact Tom Watson came so close to doing something absolutely preposterous.
Only a matter of time for Jason Day and the 'new garcia' mannasero,vegas,kim etc...

LEE WESTWOOD?
LUKE DONALD?

If winning mickey-mouse events make them World Class, then they are in the wrong tournament.

This is for the MEN not boys !! Get in there RORY !!

While one can always expect surprise winners at St Georges, I suspect Luke Donald has the temperment and skill set for this course. A soft blow, not a gale would help. Tougher conditions would, I think, favour Westwood. I can't dream of McIlroy holding it together after the amazing US Open result.
Peter, Switzerland

Why is it that the ´óÏó´«Ã½ (particularly TV) and other British media claim Rory to be British/UK when he's winning and Northern Irish when not performing well? He's catholic but he takes a very neutral and sensitive stance when it comes to this matter. He played for Ireland in the World Cup and after his US Open win said it was great for Irish and Northern Irish golf. Why not respect what he wants to be and that's Northern Irish.

@ Religion & Politics about Rory - forget it, he is a catholic who is proud to be from Northern Ireland, end of story. In the same way Gerry Armstrong was proud to score for Northern Ireland in 1982 and 1,000 s of other.NORTHERN ireland - end of story!
What is more concerning is the influx of z list critics of sport.
Who in gods name is Jay Townsend?
Why have Jeff Tarango as a 'critic' for wimbledon?
Is it just me but is it hard to stomach Stan Collymore judging footballers for others?
Or maybe robbie savage?
Thank god for Peter Alliss and Jeff Stelling I say.

"Why is it that the ´óÏó´«Ã½ (particularly TV) and other British media claim Rory to be British/UK when he's winning and Northern Irish when not performing well?"

Complete tosh.

Fallenfaith, same for Scots & Welsh (vis Andy Murray?).

Well, there's an embarrassing lack of these 6 in the final 2 days. Rory McIlroy has proven himself to be a major winner, the Masters experience changed him into a winner. What of the others?

McDowell is obviously also a winner, just on a bad streak which started in the Scottish Open final round and got worse this week. He has said as much. Whether he'll win another major remains to be seen. Depends on his mental state.

Westwood has had too long to win a major - he won't ever. Hasn't got the mental stuff.

Luke Donald is making a great living at golf, but doesn't have the extra undefinable part of his make-up which brings him to the highest pinnacle of a major - it takes a mental strength which he does not have. In common with several others we have expected to win majors and haven't - Montgomery, Adam Scott, even Phil Mickelson - but he managed to turn his mental state around.

Poulter and Casey are even further away, they will never win a major between them. No mental stamina for it.

So what does it take? Who is to come? We have had quite a few one-off winners, quite a number of them rather by accident (Paul Lawrie, Ben Curtis, Louis Oosthuizen etc). They just happened to be on the right score at the right time when others faltered - they did not go out and win the tournaments (although Paul Lawrie's 3-3 finish in his play-off was pretty impressive). Probably goes for both Sandy Lyle's majors too, certainly his Open.

Promising looking players abound - but do they have the mental stuff? Impressed with Tom Lewis, he seems to have a great attitude, he could win this year if he has his head together (possible at that age / level of experience?). Ricky Fowler looks to have promise, good poise and attitude. Very difficult to pick out very many. No Americans other than Fowler. I do wish Sergio Garcia would get his head together for it, but I've got my doubts (a Spanish winner this year might be rather appropriate). Any of the Scandinavians? Can't see it at the moment. Others? Again having difficulty seeing any. So maybe the "accidental" winners will come to the fore.

Rory McIlroy will, undoubtably, win more. He has proven himself between the Masters and US Open, his mental state is now good.

Oh, and I've no idea at all who is going to win this one.

Ken... Maybe you should stick to just commentating:

Luke Donald - Missed the cut
Lee Westwood - Missed the cut
Rory McIlroy - Can't find US Open form
Graeme McDowell - Missed the cut
Paul Casey - Hanging on by a thread
Ian Poulter - Missed the cut

Hindsight is a great tool, but maybe the fact your six choices didn't stray outside of the UK was a little... short sighted??