Why Not?

We’ve talked about a lot of things so far this week. From the favorite, to the Aussie and American chances, to the pairings and finally, the course, but now it’s time to put all that information to use and talk about who is actually going to win this thing.

There are a lot of choices this week, many of which are as likely to win as the next. So, let’s look at five of the favorites as set out by some of the “experts.”

Rory McIlroy

I would be remiss if I didn’t start out with the lad from Northern Ireland, Rory McIlroy. Coming off the biggest win of his career at the US Open, Wee Mac took a three week hiatus to let the win and the hoopla surrounding it settle.

He went about his now-normal major routine of flying into the venue the week before the tournament and knocking the ball around before returning home again. Reemerging on the grounds on Tuesday for his presser, McIlroy looked relaxed and even more confident than when we last saw him at Congressional.

Appearing focused and refreshed, more than a few people changed their presumptions that he would not be able to win back to back majors.

Prediction: A good bet to be sure, but I’m not sure he’s ready to battle the conditions that are expected this week. We all know what happened last year at the Old Course after McIlroy lit the world on fire with his first round 63 in favorable conditions, but when the wind picked up, so did McIlroy’s score. While he is a year older and wiser, I don’t know if he has completely mastered playing championship golf in the wind.

Luke Donald

The No. 1 player in the world is coming to Royal St. George’s off a win last week at Castle Stuart in the Scottish Open. Many think that his win at the Scottish on a links course bodes well for Donald this week, and why shouldn’t they? A winner three times so far in 2011, Donald, although yet to win a major, has without a doubt been the most consistent player of the past eight months.

His short game will be key this week as the unorthodox green complexes are leaving some players to already let their opinions be formed. While it will be hard to hold the green, Donald’s ability to get up and down will be tested ad nauseum throughout the week. His straight drives will also be helpful, but the quirkiness of the fairways don’t always reward on-target shots.

Prediction: I expect Donald to be in the mix if only for the fact that he is hot at the moment and has an uncanny short game. The Castle Stuart win has been overblown because of the weather that they had in Scotland last week. With one day being completely rained out, the course wasn’t playing like RSG will. It was softer, if not under water, and allowed for a more American style of play. Donald will still be in search of his first major come Monday.

Steve Stricker

Call him the great American hope. Well, he along with Nick Watney seem to be the best bet for an American to contend for the Claret Jug this week. Coming off his third straight win at the John Deere Classic, Stricker has his game clicking, especially the putter, his go-to club. Unfortunately for Sticker, the previous two times he won the John Deere, the success did not travel with him overseas.

Probably the best bet for the American side that doesn’t seem too threatening without Tiger Woods in Europe, Stricker has the game to compete, it just doesn’t seem to be in the cards with the winds blowing the way they have been this week. Then again, who knows. Who was thinking about Ben Curtis eight years ago?

Prediction: He finished T55 and T52 in his past two appearances coming off victories. Another player without a major championship, like Phil Mickelson it doesn’t appear that links golf really suits Stricker. While he should be around for the weekend due to his grinding ways, it’s hard to see him outlasting a field of Europe’s best in “their” major.

Martin Kaymer

Kind of falling off the radar as of late, Kaymer hasn’t made much noise since his whirlwind finish in 2010. Rising to the rank of No. 1 earlier in the year, Kaymer hasn’t done much to keep his name on the tongue of the bookkeepers. If I were to take a guess as to why, I would have to point to Augusta.

Billed as a right-to-left ball flight course, Augusta National got into Kaymer’s head. A normal, for him, left-to-right ball flight wasn’t good enough in his estimation. In trying to change his natural ball flight, I think he may have set himself back a bit. He didn’t compete at Augusta or Congressional, but back in Europe, playing a style of golf that really doesn’t call for a directional ball flight as much as it does for the trajectory of the shots, Kaymer can get out of his own way and make a move.

He won last year at St. Andrews in the Dunhill, so he is a proven links golfer. He finished tied for seventh at the Open last year, again at St. Andrews.

Prediction: Although in writing out the reasons why Kaymer has a chance to win, I almost talked myself into picking him, but no. I go back to his own shooting himself in the foot, if you will, with his swing tweak at Augusta. He’s coming around, but not yet. He’s still one of the top-5 players in the world, but I don’t see this week being the one Kaymer picks up his second major.

Lee Westwood

The wily vet is still in search of his first major championship and what better place than in his own country. The quirks at RSG are the mounds and moguls in the fairways that can make a seemingly good drive kick off the fairway. However, with that being said, give me the guy who drives the ball on a string because even if he gets a couple of bad breaks, he will more than likely get some good bounces as well.

Westwood is playing well as of late with high finishes at both majors this year with T11 at Augusta and T3 at the US Open. He’s always right there, especially at the Open Championship, so there’s not reason he shouldn’t be again this week. In the wind, the ballstrikers will rise to the top of the board, so perhaps this is the best chance for Westwood. He also hits the ball low, which will assuredly help his cause.

Prediction: To preface this prediction, let me say that Westwood would be my pick if I was going chalk. I think he is long overdue, and maybe even a little peeved at himself that he hasn’t won one yet.

However, I see this as another pick-em out of a hat year. A Ben Curtis or Todd Hamilton year.

With that being said, I give you Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Why, you may ask.

Why not?