(David Cannon/Getty Images)

Justin Rose

OWGR: 3
Best British Open finish: T-4 (1998)
Last three British Opens: T-6, T-22, T-54
This season: Wins at the WGC-HSBC Champions and Colonial, plus seven top-10s in 12 starts. Finished T-12 at the Masters and T-10 at the U.S. Open.
Why he could win: One of the few to have played both recent Opens at Carnoustie. Rose’s T-12 in 2007 bodes better than his 1999 missed cut the year after he burst on the scene to win low amateur. Strong in all categories, gears his year around the majors and will find inspiration in his performance here 11 years ago.
Holding him back: Approach play hasn’t been up to the rest of his game but is still more than workable. Putting wasn’t great at Shinnecock, but Saturday’s greens were not a strong indicator of flat stick prowess.