Six Players to Watch at Carnoustie

2018 Open Preview & Picks

Open Championship Podcast

TOMMY FLEETWOOD

Confirmed his status as one of the world’s best players with his second-place finish at the US Open. It was a huge surprise that he missed the cut at the French Open when defending his title - Fleetwood simply doesn’t miss cuts. He loves links courses and will revel in the challenge provided by Carnoustie. If the wind blows - and it surely will - he could be a serious contender.

RICKIE FOWLER

Currently carrying the mantle as the best golfer not to have won a major. He has come close in all four and came within a whisker of stealing The Masters at Augusta in April. The American has developed an unfortunate habit of throwing in a bad round when he can least afford to do so, but he loves tough courses, and they don’t come much harder than Carnoustie. This, finally, could be his year.

SERGIO GARCIA

The Spaniard will feel that Carnoustie owes him one after he lost to Padraig Harrington in a playoff 11 years ago. He has had a quiet season thus far but you can never write him off. He remains one of the best drivers of a golf ball in the world and if he can hole a few putts early on then he could take some stopping.

JUSTIN ROSE

The former US Open champion is in the form of his life and is long overdue a second major. One of the great conundrums is his dreadful record at The Open. His best performance is still his first, as a 17-year-old at Royal Birkdale. But make no mistake, the Englishman is ready to improve on that - and Carnoustie is his type of course.

Oh Rory! The Northern Irishman promises so much. His play from tee to green during the Irish Open was sensational but he has no confidence whatsoever on the greens. There are times when it looks like he will never hole another putt again, and that even if the hole was six inches wide he still wouldn’t be able to hole the ball. But on his day he remains the most exciting player in world golf.

HENRIK STENSON

One of the most determined performers in the game, and still a class act in his 40s. Stenson hits a three wood further than anybody else and he hits it straight. He is still capable of producing incredible bursts of form and is determined to add to The Open he won in such sensational fashion at Troon two years ago. Write him off at your peril.