It's time for Major number three on the season, and this time it's the one that's most unpredictable; it's The Open Championship, and it's being played at one of the most picturesque links courses in the world, Royal Birkdale.  Also this week, the PGA Tour visits Milwaukee for the US Bank Championship at the Brown Deer Park Golf Course located in the city limits. Because some leagues only recognize PGA events for Fantasy purposes, and others will use the Major as their criteria, you'll see selections from both here this week.  You'll see why in a few moments.

Start

Padraig Harrington - A Group (The Open) - I love Padraig Harrington in this spot, and I'm probably going to regret it because I'm violating the "defending champion" rule.  However, The Open gives me a little wiggle room because it’s played on a different course every year.  Harrington should thrive on the Links-style course, being from Ireland; and besides that point, he's been great all year; netting four top-5s on Tour this year.  His stats speak for themselves.  He's 35th in Driving Distance, 13th in Putting Average, 3rd in Putts Per Round, 49th in Total Driving, 24th in All-Around Ranking, 4th in Scrambling and 4th in Bounce Back.  Those last two stats especially should offset his 135th in Driving Accuracy and 149th in Greens In Regulation.  I think it's ok to discount those on a Links course, because a) there are no trees, and b) unless you go way off course into fescue, the rough is relatively easy to maneuver from.  The key is not hitting the pot bunkers, but even should Harrington hit a few, he's 15th in Sand Saves.  I'm expecting a strong top-10 from him this week.

At least I was before I learned of Harrington's wrist injury.  He's going to give it a go this week, but hitting from the rough will be difficult, and it makes his chances a lot more tenuous.  I'm sticking with him, but Scott might really be a better choice for some of you.

Alternate Choice: Adam Scott

Stewart Cink - B Group (The Open) - Cink is typically an excellent performer in Major Tournaments, and has been awfully consistent all season long with seven top-10s in 15 tournaments this season.  As you'd expect, he's got terrific numbers across the board.  He's 36th in Driving Distance, 6th in Greens In Regulation, 23rd in Putting Average, 71st in Putts Per Round, 62nd in Total Driving, 2nd in All-Around Ranking, 90th in Sand Saves, 83rd in Scrambling and 5th in Bounce Back.  Using the same principle I applied with Harrington, on a course like this, his 142nd in Driving Accuracy shouldn't prove as much of a problem as it normally would on an American-style course.  Cink's been flirting with a Major win for some time, and this might be the week he pulls it off.  If nothing else, I'd expect a solid top-10 from him.

Alternate Choice: Robert Allenby

Kenny Perry - C Group (US Bank Championship in Milwaukee) - His biggest threats this week are DJ Trahan (missed cut last week), Chad Campbell (solid T-8th last week) and Briny Baird (missed cut last week).  This week should make four wins in six events for Perry, and anything less than an outright win, to me, should be considered a disappointment against a field such as this one.

Alternate Choice: Chad Campbell

Sit

Vijay Singh - A Group (The Open) - I haven't been exactly high on Singh all season long, and while cosmetically it appears he's had a good season (five top-5s); it's clear to anyone who has watched him for any significant amount of time that this is not the same Vijay Singh from the earlier part of this decade.  Throw in the fact that he's never won The Open, and his last top-10 came in 2005 (T-5th), I think it's fair to leave Vijay out of the discussion this week.  The failures of Singh can be traced to three areas: he's 148th in Driving Accuracy, 132nd in Sand Saves, and 102nd in Putts Per Round (and this number is dropping precipitously).  Granted, as I've mentioned, Driving Accuracy won't be as glaring an issue as it normally would, but Sand Saves will and Putts Per Round definitely will.  If you can't make putts here, you've got no shot.  Vijay's struggles with his putter have become borderline legendary of late, and unless there is some sort of miraculous recovery; I'd be honestly surprised if he makes the cut this week.

Bart Bryant - B Group (The Open) - Were it not for Kenny Perry, Bart Bryant would be the "Over 40" story of the season.  Who can forget his memorable duel with Tiger at Bay Hill earlier this year, getting "Woods-ed" on 18 on Sunday?  A solid Tour season has gotten him the invite across the pond, but Bryant, in all honesty, is going to just be happy to be there this week, and doesn't stand a chance in the scheme of things.  He hasn't had a top-25 since the EDS Byron Nelson back at the end of April, and simply doesn't have the game to measure up with the best in the World this week.  He's 156th in Driving Distance (something you kind of need at Royal Birkdale) 91st in Putting Average, 111th in Putts Per Round (these will not get it done), and 89th in Sand Saves.  His 6th in Driving Accuracy will serve him almost no purpose this week, and while his 37th in Greens In Regulation is impressive; if you're starting 30+ yards behind your competitors on this course, and not making putts, GIR won't matter.  Bryant has no shot.  Making the cut would be a miracle.

Jesper Parnevik - C Group (US Bank Championship in Milwaukee) - He’s without a top-10 this year, he's missed seven of 19 cuts, and hasn't had a finish better than T-60th since the first week of May at the Wachovia.  It's been a real struggle this year for the Swede, and some of you may be tempted to go with the "name" in a field as weak as this one.  Don't.  He's 81st in Driving Distance, 155th in Diving Accuracy (157th in Total Driving), 191st in Greens In Regulation, 157th in Sand Saves and 152nd in All-Around Ranking.  His Putter isn't terrible (58th in Putting Average and 14th in Putts Per Round), but it won't be enough to save him this week.  He may make the cut, but he won't be a factor.