2009 British Open Preview

The 2009 British Open, also referred to as the 2009 Open Championship, will take place at Turnberry, in Scotland, from July 16 to July 19. The Open Championship is the third golf major of the year. The winner of this historic tournament receives the coveted Claret Jug. Turnberry has only hosted the British Open three times previous in the 138-year history of the British Open. The other three times that the British Open was played in Turnberry, it was won by the number one ranked golfers (Tom Watson - 1977, Greg Norman - 1986, Nick Price - 1994). Tiger Woods is currently the world's number one golfer.

Padraig Harrington is the two-time defending champion of this event, winning it in 2007 and 2008. Harrington has three majors in total, also winning the 2008 PGA Championship. He won his two majors in 2008, with the absence of the world's best golfer, Tiger Woods, who had a knee injury after his epic win in the 2008 US Open, and was forced to miss the rest of the PGA Tour season.

Speaking of Tiger Woods, he is the odds-on favorite to win this year's British Open out of the 154 golfers selected to play. Woods has not won the British Open since 2006. Woods is a 14-time Major Champion, and has won three times already on the PGA Tour this season. Woods has never played at the golf course in Turnberry and that might effect his play.

Phil Mickelson, who was another favorite in the odds, pulled out of this event last week to spend time with his wife, as she begins her recovery from breast cancer. Mickelson had finished tied for second at the US Open this year and had won two PGA Tour events this season. Mickelson made the right move, as family is the number one priority.

Other dark horses, who might make a big splash in this tournament are Lucas Glover and Angel Cabrera, who each split the first two majors of the year. Other players to look out for are: Sergio Garcia, a great player who is still looking for his first career major, Jim Furyk, 2003 US Open Champion and playing well recently, Rory Mcilroy, a 20-year old kid, who is already making big waves on the PGA Tour, Anthony Kim, who had a strong showing at this year's Masters, and David Duval, because of his resurgence at the US Open.

There are also other known players who could make a run at this championship, and virtual unknowns who could make a name for themselves. Playing conditions are expected to be tough and scores are expected to be high. Should be a great and exciting tournament to watch!