Rory McIlroy—Let's start with the defending champion. Yes, he's been hit or miss this year, and no one has successfully defended a U.S. Open title since Curtis Strange in 1989. But the kid has all the necessary talent and poise, and his recent work paid off with a contending performance in Memphis that was derailed by one swing. He'll put up a credible title defense. 

For more U.S. Open coverage, click here.

Tiger Woods—We might as well stipulate that Tiger's the favorite heading into this year's Open. When we last saw him, he was giving us glimpses of vintage Tiger, winning the Memorial with what Jack Nicklaus called possibly the greatest shot he had ever seen. Woods renews his pursuit of Nicklaus' 18 majors in the same state where he won his last, the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. Tiger will be eager to outshine his playing partners in rounds 1 and 2 — Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson.

For more U.S. Open coverage, click here.

Phil Mickelson—Speaking of Lefty, if we based this solely on desire, the tournament's over before it starts. Mickelson wants this tournament more than any other, having posted a record five runner-up finishes at our national championship. We're tempted to think this tournament owes him one, but he was last seen withdrawing from the Memorial citing fatigue, a somewhat troubling red flag. Tiger seems to bring out the best in him, so he could find himself in contention heading to the weekend.

For more U.S. Open coverage, click here.

Lee Westwood—The consensus Best Player Without a Major, Westwood has a remarkable seven top-3 finishes in majors since 2008, including a T3 at the Open last year. He also had a T7 at the Open in 1998, proving that he knows his way around Olympic. He's coming off one of the most dominant performances of his career, a five-shot win on the European Tour. It just might be his time. 

For more U.S. Open coverage, click here.

Luke Donald—No. 1 in the world but unloved and unappreciated, Donald could silence his doubters once and for all at Olympic. Doesn't seem likely, though — he's never posted a top 10 at a U.S. Open, and his lack of length would seem to rule him out at a monster track like Olympic. Still, he's likely to keep it in the fairway, and he's a good enough putter to hang around. 

For more U.S. Open coverage, click here.

Dustin Johnson—You might think it's premature to include DJ on this list so soon after a prolonged injury absence. But he was so good on a tough track in Memphis, and he's so crazy long off the tee, that it wouldn't surprise us to see him on the leaderboard on Sunday. But winning's another matter; he's got some mental hurdles to clear after coming agonizingly close in other majors. 

For more U.S. Open coverage, click here.

Matt Kuchar—Kooch had a T3 at The Masters, and he finished T14 in the 1998 U.S. Open at Olympic as an amateur. His ballstriking is as good as anyone's; he's third in scoring on Tour and 10th in greens in regulation. If he can get some putts to drop, he'll contend.  

For more U.S. Open coverage, click here.

Bubba Watson—A Bubba Slam? Is it conceivable? Not really, but neither was a Watson win at Augusta (Bubba, not Tom). He'll show up at Olympic, pink driver in tow, ready to attack one of the toughest tracks in major championship history and steal some of the spotlight from playing partners Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. If nothing else, it'll be entertaining. 

For more U.S. Open coverage, click here.

With Tiger Woods' old caddy Stevie Williams on the bag and a suddenly trusty putter under his chin, Scott has leapt into the conversation for best player in the world right now. His dominant win at the Bridgestone showed that he could win on a tough track against a major-caliber field — exactly what he's facing this week. Still only 31, Scott could finally be poised to deliver on all that promise. 

Rory is an all-American golfer who just happens to be Irish. By his own admission, he dislikes the unpredictability of links golf and prefers good old American target golf, where his superior shotmaking can shine brightest. In other words, he's a perfect candidate to win multiple PGA Championships. He almost won this event at Whistling Straits last year. Get ready to see plenty more of Rory stateside in coming years. 

Ladies and gentleman, the last American to win a major. That's right - Mickelson's 2010 Masters win was glory's last shot for the Yanks. The drought almost ended at Royal St. Georges, though. For 11 holes on Sunday at the British Open, Lefty was electric, firing at pins and draining putts in vintage Mickelson fashion. Can he harness that magic for four days in the Georgia heat? The last time the PGA visited Atlanta Athletic Club, Mickelson had a win snatched away by David Toms' epic up-and-down on the 72nd hole. Lefty's major window is slowly closing, and he wants this tournament desperately. Maybe too desperately. 

It's hard to ignore the No. 1 player in the World Golf Ranking, but at the risk of sounding like a broken record, I'll say it again: Donald has to prove it on a major Sunday. He's getting closer; his record this season in the elite-field WGC events — a win, a T6 and a T2 — is stellar, and he was in contention at the Masters. The PGA seems like a likely spot for a breakthrough, a la Payne Stewart circa 1989.  

The defending PGA Champion has been a disappointment this season. Other than a January win in Abu Dhabi and a brief reign atop the World Golf Ranking, Kaymer has been largely invisible, missing the cut at The Masters and failing to contend at either the U.S. or British Opens. His talent is undeniable, though, and we can only hope that he contends so we can catch a glimpse of world-class WAG Allison Micheletti. 

Day has done everything but win this season, finishing T2 at The Masters, second at the U.S. Open and T4 at the Bridgestone and surging to seventh in the World Golf Ranking. He's played his best golf this season south of the Mason-Dixon line, and he'll hold up in the sweltering conditions. Basically, the kid's a major waiting to happen, and it could happen this week.

Speaking of Southern-fried talent, Kuchar is a former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket who'll feel like he's on home turf this week. But after posting eight top-10 finishes through the Memorial, Kuchar has backslid in recent weeks, missing the cut at the British and Canadian Opens, and his major resume doesn't exactly scream contender. But familiar surroundings and a friendly, supportive crowd could carry Kooch to that elusive breakthrough. 

Over the last 14 months, DJ has melted down in the final round of the 2010 U.S. Open when it was his tournament to lose; lost a spot in a playoff to a untimely grounded club at the 2010 PGA; and lost the 2011 British on a wayward 2-iron shot lost out of bounds. It's fair to wonder if this insanely talented 27-year-old can handle the big stage. But if Mickelson comparisons are fair — and I think they are — that means that there are majors in this guy's future. Don't be surprised if he's on the leaderboard on Sunday.

Stricker just keeps chugging along, his post-40 renaissance in full bloom. He's won twice this year, including his third straight win at the John Deere Classic. But ever since his runner-up finish to Vijay Singh at the 1998 PGA, he really hasn't come close to winning a major. For now, he's firmly ensconced in Kenny Perry territory — great career, but in history's second tier. A major could change that. 

A year ago, this tournament was Watney's to lose, and lose it he did, squandering a three-shot lead with a final-round 81 at Whistling Straits. Watney enters the PGA as the leader in FedExCup points, a nice accomplishment but sorry substitute for major glory. Still, Watney has won twice this year against major-caliber fields, at the WGC-Cadillac and the AT&T. He's as likely a candidate as any to end America's major drought, which is now six tournaments long. 

This was supposed to be Westwood's breakthrough season. Hasn't happened. Aside from wins in Korea and Indonesia, Westwood has been MIA for most of this season, aside from an essentially meaningless T3 at the Rory-dominated U.S. Open, and he's still stinging from a stunning missed cut at the British. Still, it's impossible to dismiss Westwood's six top-three finishes in his last eight majors. He'll be lurking this week. 

Is Woods really a contender this week? Probably not, but if I didn't include him, he'd go out and win the thing for sure. Woods, whose last Tour win came at the 2009 BMW, continues to shed sponsors and supporters and had to endure the spectacle of his former caddie outshining him at his comeback tournament. He's cornered right now, which means he's dangerous. At least I hope so — a toothless Tiger is no good for anyone.

Rory’s dominant win at the U.S. Open unleashed a torrent of Tiger comparisons, which are probably premature but not all that far-fetched. McIlroy has been a factor at the last four majors, showing his ability to contend on every type of track and displaying a remarkably complete and well-rounded game. One caveat: Rory’s agent, Chubby Chandler, says his star client’s game isn’t that well-suited to the Open. Sandbag much, Chubster?

Also Read: Hole-By-Hole Breakdown of Royal St. Georges.

His nearly flawless play this season continued with a four-shot win at the Barclays Scottish Open, the European’s Tour’s Open tune-up. But the world’s top-ranked golfer needs to justify his ranking on a major stage — he has only two top 10s in his last 15 major championship appearances. 

Also Read: Hole-By-Hole Breakdown of Royal St. Georges.

The 38-year-old’s major window won’t stay open forever. Westwood has done everything but win at golf’s biggest events, posting top-3 finishes in six of his last 11 major appearances. That frustrating ledger of near-misses has to take a toll at some point.

Also Read: Hole-By-Hole Breakdown of Royal St. Georges.

Lefty’s record of futility at the British (only one career top 10) is one of golf’s great mysteries. Yes, his high ball flight can be troublesome in the unpredictable winds of Great Britain, but a guy of his creativity, particularly around the greens, should thrive in the Open. If he could ever get comfortable on the greens, he could contend.

Also Read: Hole-By-Hole Breakdown of Royal St. Georges.

Ladies and gentlemen, America’s best player. The fact that many of you have only vaguely heard of him speaks to the current state of American golf. That’s not to diminish his accomplishments this season, though. Watney is currently fending off fellow American Steve Stricker in the FedExCup points standings, and his win at the WGC-Cadillac this season shows he can beat an elite field. 

Also Read: Hole-By-Hole Breakdown of Royal St. Georges.

Many of us anointed Kaymer as golf’s Next Big Thing after his win at the PGA Championship, but 2011 has been a bit of a disappointment, even though he did grab the top spot in the computer for a time. He hasn’t won since January, and he missed the cut at the Masters and failed to factor at the U.S. Open. 

Also Read: Hole-By-Hole Breakdown of Royal St. Georges.

You might be asking what this phenom-turned-disappointment is doing on this list. Well, Sergio’s been sneaky-good this season, tying for seventh at the U.S. Open and qualifying for the British with a runner-up finish at the BMW in Europe. He’s making his 49th consecutive appearance, the longest active streak in golf, and he has six career top 10s at golf’s oldest major. 

Also Read: Hole-By-Hole Breakdown of Royal St. Georges.

What’s not to like about this kid? He’s played in four career majors and finished second in two of them, and 10th in a third. He’s crazy talented and utterly fearless. He could be hampered by his lack of links experience — this is only his second Open — but don’t rule him out. 

Also Read: Hole-By-Hole Breakdown of Royal St. Georges.

The 2010 U.S. Open champion has been hit-or-miss so far this season — mostly miss — but his 69-69 finish at the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional proved he still has the skills to compete in a major. One thing’s for sure: He won’t take himself too seriously, whatever happens.

Also Read: Hole-By-Hole Breakdown of Royal St. Georges.

We’re still marveling at the birdie binge Schwartzel used to win the Masters, but Sir Charl isn’t a one-hit wonder. He followed up his Masters win with a T9 at the U.S. Open, showing staying power. He doesn’t have a history of links success, but he didn’t have much of a Masters record before this year, either. He could make it back-to-back British Open wins for South Africa, following last year’s unexpected win by Louis Oosthuizen. 

Also Read: Hole-By-Hole Breakdown of Royal St. Georges.