THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS tees off today with many of the usual suspects occupying the low odds when you visit your bookmakers, but here are three 20-something and two late bloomers with a chance of taking their first major success.
Hideki Matsuyama
The 22-year-old is one of the best hopes of becoming only the second Asian golfer to win a major title. Ranked a career high of world number 15 coming into Hoylake, Matsuyama has steadily climbed the golfing ranks since winning his first Japanese Tour event as an amateur while still only 19. Won his first PGA event in June at the Memorial when he defeated American Kevin Na in a playoff. An aggressive player who likes to attack the course and go for his shots.
Victor Dubuisson
The complex 24-year-old Frenchman from the Cote d’Azur jewel of Cannes is already assured his place in the European Ryder Cup team after finishing runner-up in WGC-Accenture Match Play Championships in February when he was beaten at the fifth playoff hole by Australian Jason Day.
Won his first European Tour event last November at the Turkish Open but has yet to really find his best form at the majors. His best career result was 28th at this year’s US Open and he will be appearing at only his second Open.
Jordan Spieth
The 20-year-old Texan was on the brink of becoming the youngest player to ever win the Masters in April when he led eventual champion Bubba Watson by two strokes during the final round.
Won his first PGA event at the John Deere Classic in 2013 at the fifth playoff hole and comes into the Open with a career high world ranking of 10. Finished as the low amateur at the 2012 US Open where he finished tied for 21st and is the only two-time US Junior Amateur champion alongside Tiger Woods.
Stephen Gallacher
The Scot was in contention at the French Open in July where he was one shot off the lead in the second round and also challenged at last week’s Scottish Open in Aberdeen where he finished tied for fourth after a final round course record of 63.
He became the first player to win back-to-back Dubai Desert Classic’s in February for his third European victory. The 39-year-old is desperate to qualify for Europe’s Ryder Cup team to play at Gleneagles in September, a venue just down the road from his home in Linlithgow.
Mikko Illonen
Recently won the Irish Open in June when he led from opening day for his fourth European victory but lost at the third playoff hole to Spaniard Sergio Garcia at the Qatar Masters earlier in the year. An experienced and talented links player having won the Amateur Championship at Hoylake in 2000 before finishing ninth at the Open the following year, his best career result at a major to date. Finished 16th on his last visit to Royal Liverpool in 2006 when Tiger Woods won the 12th of his 14 majors.
