Golf: The Open - 2008 - The Open Preview

With the 137th Open Championship beginning on July 17th 2008 at Royal Birkdale, Gary Lineker and guests assess the main contenders in this year's tournament. With Tiger Woods missing out through injury, all of his rivals will be harbouring ambitions of lifting the famous Claret Jug on Sunday. They include last year's winner Padraig Harrington, former Open champion Ernie Els and world number two Phil Mickelson, who is looking to win his first major on foreign soil. No British player has ever won the Open at Royal Birkdale but Lee Westwood is in form this year, as his recent third place at the US Open proved. Meanwhile, Justin Rose will be returning to the course where he made a name for himself 10 years ago, when he finished tied for fourth as a 17-year-old amateur.