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Breaking down the British Open A look at the contenders for the season's third major. NBCSports.com

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IN THE RUNNING

Ben Curtis
You have to laugh at John Daly's reasoning that no other U.S.-based golfer plays in Europe more often than the 1995 champ, but that's because he was suspended in the states! In relevant matters, Curtis, the 2003 winner at St. George's, truly embraces the competition, tracks and experience of the Euro Tour. It's not so much because he's riding a streak of four top-10s in Europe dating back to the '07 Open, it's that he lets the courses come to him, taking what they give. The results are merely products of the approach.

Anthony Kim
He's mercurial. He's capricious. He's swashbuckling. What might be wrong for some is right for the game. Golf needs, and is lucky to have, the colorful splashes of the now 24-year-young AK. Sometimes, the kaleidoscope is directly in a sunbeam; other times, the rotating knob breaks free causing an unsettling ignorance for not only what went wrong, but how to fix it. In the meantime, enjoy the show. He's eccentric. He's engaging. He's downright entertaining.

Hunter Mahan
Turnberry's course record is 63, established by Mark Hayes in 1977, then matched by Greg Norman in '86. It would make all the sense in the world for Mahan to go one lower and become the first sub-63 in a major. His Sunday 62 at the AT&T National was his sixth such score on the PGA Tour. This will be his fifth British Open; he finished T-6 at Carnoustie in '07 and he's absolutely tearing it up right now.

Graeme McDowell
He won't turn 30 until the end of the month, but the Ulsterman will be competing in his sixth British this week. Last year's T-19 included a third-round 80 (who can forget the wind that day?!), and his total driving has improved tremendously -- he's longer AND farther -- from what was already impressive territory a year ago. Moreover, he's scrappy and has some moxie, as evidenced at the Ryder Cup at Valhalla, where he went 2-1-1.

Ian Poulter
If there is anything that can be gleaned from the world of Twitter, it's that Poulter takes his fun seriously. It's a good thing he only works four days a week and a couple of times a month; otherwise, he wouldn't have any time to take photos of his sports car, hotel room views or provide continuous glimpses into the life of a superstar golfer. Or at least one that is still in search of his first victory on the PGA Tour. Life is good overseas, and Poulter has just one rung to climb after last year's runner-up, but his tee ball could get him into some trouble this week. At least we're bound to get some primo shots of his wardrobe.