GARCIA, Sergio
Bagged his first top-20 finish in a major since winning the Masters when 19th at Torrey Pines last month, ending an awful sequence of results in the sport's most important events. Signs there, as well as beforehand at Colonial and to some degree in Germany too, that his game is in good shape and certainly has added power and extra efficiency off the tee. Always looked a potential Open winner and not yet out of time, with this course (T10-T9) more suitable than many. Concerns over his confidence and whether putting would hold up under pressure but don't be surprised if he is in the mix at some stage and therefore faced with those questions.
GLOVER, Lucas
Former US Open winner who pops up from time to time, but seldom looks like winning again and is surely a spent force at this level. It's no doubt a source of immense frustration that he seems to have worked out how to putt a bit better, until the precise moment his long-game clicks. Main positives are that 12th here in 2011 is his standout Open result and he was the halfway leader back then, and he did end a 10-year drought in the John Deere Classic on Sunday.
GOOCH, Talor
Quietly establishing himself as one of the better PGA Tour maidens for whom victory at some stage soon would not come as a surprise. Unless of course it's here, on his Open debut, even if his Oklahoma roots will help with any wind. No relation to Graham, and these days his surname is actually best known as a colloquial term for the area between the anus and genitals, usually on a man.
GRACE, Branden
The only player in history to card a round of 62 at a men's major and bound to be popular here, after leading the field from tee-to-green when seventh at Torrey Pines. Also in the mix at the US PGA, it's been a comeback year for the likeable South African and he's a proper links and coastal specialist, who has long had the game to win an Open. Market reflects a lot of this but the last Open went to a player with a very similar profile at a very similar price and if you're going to land an obvious winner, why not at about 66/1? It worked in 2019.
HORSFIELD, Sam
Highly talented youngster with two European Tour wins to his name and a string of excellent performances this year. Gone a bit quiet at the wrong time (WD-MC since T5 in Germany) and for now is best known for what he can do when birdies are the order of the day, so I am going to take a rare break from tipping him.
HOSHINO, Rikuya
One of the best players on the Japan Golf Tour and edging closer to the world's top 50 as a result of both that and a very good effort in the US Open at Torrey Pines (T26). All this means he'll represent Japan in the Tokyo Olympics along with Hideki Matsuyama and at 25, clearly has potential.
HOVLAND, Viktor
Europe's most promising youngster now that Jon Rahm has graduated from that category, and a smiling assassin who will be a very popular Ryder Cup addition this September. Remains prone to wild swings in form but is a ball-striking machine when running hot and looks sure to be involved in majors for many years. Fact that it's almost frustrating he's yet to contend in one says much, given he's 23, and interesting to see how he goes with so much good form by the coast over in the US. Failed to advance to the match play section in the 2017 Amateur Championship here after a 75 at Royal St George's, but that's not a serious concern. Indeed much was made of his shocking amateur performance at Riviera, and he was placed there as a professional. He's come a long way very quickly and became the first Norwegian winner on the European Tour with a dominant display in Munich a couple of weeks ago, after which he had Norwegian golf fans completing cross-country expeditions to watch him play a 'quiet' 18. Read that brilliant story below.
