Open Championship 2017: Root for these nine golfers to win at Royal Birkdale
The major season is halfway over, and this time next week, after The Open Championship is all wrapped up, we will be 75 percent done with just one major until the 2018 Masters. But first, Royal Birkdale will host its first Open since 2008 and just its second this century. The last one was won by Padraig Harrington who is (improbably) a contender again.
Every major has great storylines going in, but which are the easiest to root for this week? Who should the casual golf fan who maybe only watches on Sundays or only tunes into the major championships be pulling for this week at Royal Birkdale? I have some names of legitimate contenders for you to look at. We're exlcuding the obvious ones like Mark O'Meara winning in what will probably be his last Open because, let's be honest, Mark O'Meara has no chance of winning this week.
So here are nine golfers with a real chance to win and why they're going to be so easy to root for in Southport, England, this weekend.
- Rickie Fowler: The American is still looking for his first major, and this might be his best chance to grab it. Fowler finshed in the top 10 at the U.S. Open in June and played great last week at the Scottish Open. He's likable, thrilling to watch and tough as haggis in bad weather. He'll be a fan favorite on both sides of the pond this week.
- Lee Westwood: Poor Westwood is nearing his 80th major start without ever notching a single win. This week's would be particularly savory coming in his home country of England. He has contended so many times here over the years (three top-three finishes since 2009), it would be incredible if he could finally get it done at age 44.