Woods is the favourite

World number one Tiger Woods is the clear favourite and he'll look to build on his showing at Carnoustie last year when he finished in equal seventh at ten over par.

With 20 PGA titles to his name including that runaway success at this year's US Open, Tiger made his first appearance at the British Open as an amateur in 1996 at Royal Lytham.

Then despite an opening round 75 he produced three high quality rounds to end the tournament three-under.

Colin Montgomerie

Montgomerie should feel at home

With seven Volvo Order of Merit titles to his name the 37-year-old Scot leads the challenge on both the British and European front.

It's well documented that he has never landed a Major title but Montgomerie should be as hardened to the St Andrews conditions as anybody.

Once again this season he has been in his usual consistent form keeping him up close to the top of the Order of Merit and winning him his third consecutive Volvo PGA Championship.

David Duval

Duval didn't enjoy The Open in 99

Last year's Open was not a tournament that David Duval wil be particularly keen to be reminded of.

The American finished 22 over par for the tournament as the Carnoustie course claimed a prized victim.

So Duval will have a point to prove this year and anyone who in their career can claim to have at some point toppled Tiger Woods from the number one spot is a player to be feared.

Ernie Els

Els wants to go one better than 96

Of the current top five in the World, Ernie Els has come the closest to landing The Open title so far.

The South African finished alongside Mark McCumber as runner-up to Tom Lehman at Royal Lytham in 1996, just two shots behind the winner.

In 1998 he was again featuring prominently on the leaderboard as he tied for sixth place and will be hopeful of adding to the two US Open titles that he already has to his name.

Lee Westwood

Westwood is the man in form

The Worksop man is certainly the form player going into the Championship.

His victory in the Smurfit European Open took him up to fourth in the World Rankings and was his second successive tournament win.

His last six outings have all seen finishes in the top five and have placed him hot on the heels of Darren Clarke in the Order of Merit.

It all makes for an intriguing championship when the winner will not only be the player who handles the conditions best, but also receives that bit of good fortune that any player needs to land the coveted Open title.