The ball doesn't know how old you are, neither does the golf course or the wind. Thanks to Tom Watson, I will no longer say, "It's hell getting old." I have the pleasure of playing and working at Watson's first American design, Cassique, at the Kiawah Island Club, in South Carolina. The course is a links-style layout as timeless as Watson, and it is heavenly to play. 

The commentators keep saying that 59-year-old Watson has found the fountain of youth, but the young guns spraying the ball through the winds of Turnberry don't have the wealth of wisdom or the experience of winning that Tom Watson owns. You don't just suddenly find that stuff, it is earned over time.

For three days Tom speaks with the certainty of knowing he can win, his eyes gleam with a powerful yet calming sense of confidence, his walk is poised and his attitude is modest.  But there's a spirit in his soul. He has the the images of his 1977 win over Jack Nicklaus at the Ailsa course, and he has won this championship five times. He knows to play the ball on the ground, and keep it out of the hay. He plays one shot at a time and he can stay in the moment.

As the final round begins, Tom appears a bit tentative in the putting stroke that has kept him leading wire-to-wire.  He drops two shots in his first three holes.  "Come on Tom, You're the Comeback Kid, you never leave a putt short because you know you always make it coming back. With plenty of holes left, be patient, heaven can wait."

As Tom leaves a birdie putt just short on No. 4, Ross Fisher, up ahead on No. 5 and now leading the Open, is still trying to get out of the long grass. Once out, Fisher's third shot flies high left and the wind actually takes the ball behind him. After the fifth, Fisher is once again behind Watson, who flawlessly carries the ball onto the fifth green as if it's heaven-sent, just like Stewart Cink's shot into 18 green, and Lee Westwood's shot into 17. Cink ties Watson with a birdie at 18, and Westwood has a very makeable eagle putt on 17, but settles for birdie to go to 2-under again.

As Tom hits his second into 17, he knew immediately he hit it too far, rolling just past the hole, one foot into the thick rough. Wouldn't it be heaven if he could chip it in, like he did on 17 at Pebble Beach to win the US Open in 79? He chooses to putt, takes birdie and a one shot lead into 18.  My legs are feeling numb, my stomach churning like hell as I watch history in the making. 

Is Tom's gut churning too?  With a perfect drive into 18 fairway, seems he is on cloud nine as he strolls toward his second shot, 187 yards to the green. With the wind, an 8-iron puts him over the green, his ball sitting in the rough just off the fringe. Please God, send an angel to watch over old Tom as he putts it up the hill to the cup. He hits it too hard and it goes eight feet past. Then, out of nowhere, he is too tentative and leaves it short. What the hell?

After a four-hole playoff with Cink, the goddess of victory swooshed in and took the Claret Jug out of Watson's grasp. This will not only be the Open that Cink won, but the Open that Tom Watson almost won.  As Tom said it best, "It was a hell of a week and would have made a hell of a story." Well, it was a hell of a story, and it was heavenly.

Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher Carol Preisinger is director of instruction at the Kiawah Island Golf Club. To learn more about Carol, visit carolpreisinger.com.

The British Open returns to Turnberry on Thursday, which means we'll likely see a deserving winner. This course has produced some of our greatest champions: Watson in 1977, Norman in 1986, and Price in 1994. That’s because Turnberry tests every part of a player's game. You won't see another Ben Curtis this year. And unless Tiger Woods wins, it's unlikely another American will.

The links golf you see at the British Open is a different game. American golf is mostly played in the air, while links golf is largely on the ground. You need to make adjustments to play this style golf, and for most American players one week is not enough time to prepare. The international players are familiar with British Open-style courses—many of them grew up on them—and they're more capable of hitting a variety shots. Even American Todd Hamilton, the 2004 winner, had played on the international tours, where he got his Ph.D. in links golf.

So who is lurking out there as the potential winner? Let's take a look.

The Favorite
Tiger Woods* is the overwhelming favorite to win. He's the smartest guy who's ever played and probably the best putter to play at a championship level. He's very versatile with his game so he has the flexibility that a lot of American players don't. For example, Phil Mickelson is great on a course that requires a high, soft shot, but he hasn't adapted to the British Open. Tiger's never been a one-trick pony. Plus, he knows how to play championship golf. He doesn't try to impose his will on a course; he takes what it gives him. That's a hard thing to do and it speaks to his patience and maturity.
Brady's Odds to Win: Even

*I made him a similar favorite at Bethpage, but the draw didn't work out for him. He didn't cry about it; he never will.

The Contenders

Martin Kaymer: Golf is a game of streaks. Nothing beats playing well going into a major and last week's Scottish Open winner is hot. If you follow the European Tour at all, you always see his name up there. The British Open is the most important tournament internationally and this might be Kaymer's week.
Brady's Odds to Win: 8 to 1

Henrik Stenson: I love his game and he's proved that he's always someone to be dealt with. He won't be afraid, and I always like a guy who's good at match play.
Brady's Odds to Win: 8 to 1

Geoff Ogilvy: Until otherwise noted, Geoff is a top-5 contender in every major championship. He's proved it.
Brady's Odds to Win: 8 to 1

Angel Cabrera: At majors, he's like the guy who comes to dinner and just won't leave. He's probably as formidable as anyone out there. If he was American, he'd be a hugely popular player because he looks like he really enjoys life. I dig him, he's cool.
Brady's Odds to Win: 8 to 1

Sergio Garcia: Regular readers know I'm not a fan, but he's obviously played well in this tournament. If Tiger ended up with a bad-weather draw, and Sergio was in the good half, then Sergio could win this tournament. But I can't envision a scenario where he beats Tiger if all things are equal.
Brady's Odds to Win: 8 to 1

Lee Westwood: I really like him. He's gotten a lot smarter and it feels like he deserves to win a major. Westwood was down and out and he resurrected his career. Golf is a difficult game in which to do that and it says a lot about his character.
Brady's Odds to Win: 10 to 1

Padraig Harrington: He just won the Irish PGA, but that's not a great barometer. He always wins that—it's like an annuity for him. If he is really getting it back, then he would be the guy after Tiger. I just think he still has some questions about his own game.
Brady's Odds to Win: 10 to 1

Anthony Kim: The British Open is a good tournament for him. He had three really good rounds at Birkdale last year, and Anthony is very smart on a golf course. He never does anything stupid, although he can get too aggressive. However, the British Open is not a bad event for an aggressive player. No one ever called Tom Watson conservative. If the course gets soft and Anthony can go birdie-hunting, look out. When he's firing on all cylinders, he can beat anyone, including Tiger.
Brady's Odds to Win: 10 to 1

A lot of people are asking, "What's going on with Padraig Harrington?" Yes, the two-time defending British Open champion has not been playing up to his normal standards (which are unbelievably high). But as one of his team of coaches, I can tell you that Padraig is just fine. Last week, he won the Irish PGA Championship for the third time in a row, hopefully a good omen for this Open at Turnberry.

Truly elite players have a different way of thinking and that might be what makes them the best. Once they reach the pinnacle of winning a major, their focus changes. Instead of victory satisfying their hunger, it just increases the desire to win more. Major champions often change their games, so that they can win all of them.

This is what Padraig is doing. He clearly understands what has to be done to compete in all four majors, and he knows it may take some time.

However, the only reason for his recent poor form is his short game. Padraig won three majors because of his incredible short game, not his ball-striking. While working on swing changes, Padraig neglected his short game and as a result has not scored well. He has worked hard the past three weeks on bringing his short game back, and he is optimistic about this week's Open Championship.

Padraig says the rough at Turnberry is as tough as he has ever seen, and for a Irishman and links specialist to say that should be a warning to everyone. Padraig is a happy man right now and keep in mind that he's the youngest of the three competitive players with three major victories (Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh). Even though Padraig is not quite where he wants to be with his full swing, his short game is returning to form and nobody putts better on links courses. Don't write him off yet.

Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher Dave Phillips is co-founder of the Titleist Performance Institute in Oceanside, Calif., and is one of Padraig Harrington's team of coaches.

The best man won the British Open this year. I can tell you this because I was with Padraig as he prepared for the Open by playing the Irish PGA Championship lst week. In even worse conditions than Birkdale, Padraig won by the same four stokes. Winning a major after hurting his hand during a practice drill last Saturday -- and not even getting to play practice rounds at Birkdale -- shows the mental toughness of a champion.

Padraig has no intention of becoming a British Open specialist. He's going after the other majors too. Great players always challenge themselves to get better, and Padraig has been working on a swing change that by his own admission will take two years to complete. It is all part of his plan to win other major championships. After his Open win at Carnoustie in 2007, he decided to work on stopping his slight lateral slide through impact and develop a more rotary motion with a more stable lower body.

These changes will allow him to release the club easier under pressure and give him the ability to hit a few more shots, which he will need to compete in every major. He has a team of specialists around him that is akin to a pit crew of a Formula One racing car, and it's working. He now has a second major win, and he's only halfway through his plan.

Even though his game is perfect for British Open links-type courses, this win takes him to another level of confidence. With his mental toughness, a short game as strong as any in the sport and an incredible level of fitness, Padraig is around to stay. He has to be looked at as a serious contender in every major championship to come.

(Photo: John Biever/SI)

Yes, Padraig Harrington played a great round Sunday at Royal Birkdale under difficult conditions to win his second consecutive British Open. This is his moment. But you're not a real golf fan if you're not wondering how Tiger Woods would have fared on this course in that weather.

The answer? It's hard to imagine Tiger not playing well enough to win. Nothing against Padraig. He really turned it on over the back nine, but he would have had to play that way all day to keep pace with Tiger. The real key to Tiger's success is how smart he is, and he would have had a strategy for this course. Remember when he won at Liverpool in 2005 while keeping his driver in the bag? With a Sunday lead at Birkdale, he could have done that again.

I think you would have seen a lot of stinger irons, and the driver only when he needed it. He can hit all the shots, so he would have fought the wind at times and rode it other times. Tiger doesn't care if he wins by 10 strokes or one, he just wants to win.

The funny thing is that Padraig is the same way. If he was a boxer, he'd go 15 rounds with you blow-for-blow. Would he have been able to go the distance with Tiger? It would have been fun to watch, but we got a pretty good show anyway.

Yes, we have a real British Open, and cheers to that. The weather has been true to form with intermittent rain and wind gusts that are expected to continue into the weekend. Despite the throwback names on the leaderboard, with former Open champs like Greg Norman (even) and David Duval (+2) near the top, I still think links veterans and Ryder Cuppers who’ve dealt with intense mental pressure have the best chance to win.

Padraig Harrington (+2) closed impressively today with eagle-birdie and is in a great position for the weekend along with Graeme McDowell (+2). The two Irish boys are right where they want to be, and if the conditions stay bad, they will be there at the end. Jim Furyk (+2) is a Ryder Cup veteran who has the mental toughness to last, and this could be his best chance to win a British. We can’t forget Sergio Garcia (+5), either. He only needs one good round to get back in this Open, but it will have to be tomorrow.

That said, I don’t discount players like K.J. Choi (-1) and Rocco Mediate (+2). Choi played a terrific round today, and you can’t underestimate this soft-spoken Korean. He has a great support team around him and has the swing, fitness and mental toughness to handle the coming pressure. What he lacks in links experience he gains in solid mechanics, and he has been in the hunt at majors several times. He has to be one of the best players yet to win a major, and this may very well be his week. Mediate, America’s favorite runner-up, also has a chance to outlast the field.

At least he knows he’ll outlast Tiger.

Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher David Phillips teaches at the Titleist Performance Institute in Oceanside, Calif.

Watching the best players in the world post some big numbers at Royal Birkdale this week reminds me of my first experience with links-style golf.

It was 1986, when I played the European Tour, and my roommate and I were attempting to qualify for the 1986 British Open at Turnberry. I don't recall the qualifying course’s name, but I call it the School of Hard Knocks, and I sure got an education!

Lesson No. 1: The Ball Doesn’t Stop Rolling

The first hole was benign, a short and straightaway par 4, only 360 yards. I went with a long iron from the tee to avoid some scary-looking fairway bunkers. I struck it well and ended up in the light rough about 70 yards from the pin. I knew the fairways and greens were hard, so I played my shot to land near the front edge of the green. I took a sand wedge and struck it fine, though I landed it a bit shorter than desired, some 10 yards short of the front edge. The ball took a huge hop and bounded toward the hole, taking only a short look at the pin as it continued toward the back edge of the green. Then it disappeared, exiting the green like it had somewhere better to be, and only stopped when it lost the battle with the gorse bush about 20 yards over the back edge.

Lesson No. 2: Go low

On an American-style course, if I have a good yardage for a scoring club, let's say an 8-iron or less, I expect a good outcome no matter what the conditions. A well-struck 9-iron is going to finish near the hole for a good birdie opportunity nearly every time. On a links course, you can land a 9-iron close to where you want and still end up 80 feet from the hole, with seven buried elephants in the way, in a bunker that you didn't even know was there.

That’s the reason you'll see so many players bring the ball in “flat,” or extra low with what seems like way too much club. They want to make sure the ball is going to run so they can better plan the outcome. If you don’t know when the ball is going to bite or run, then you can’t control your distances. With a flatter ball flight, at least players know the ball is going to chase forward, so they can better choose where to land it. Also, a lower shot is less affected by the wind.

Lesson No. 3: Objects are closer than they appear

The visual cues we Americans are used to are just not there. Links courses don’t have trees, and many of the tee shots and approach shots are blind. It’s like hitting into a vacant field with no target. Your aiming point might be a tiny house or shack three or four miles into the distance. Sometimes you have nowhere to aim at all and have to just fire away over grass-covered mounds, trusting there’s friendly country on the other side.

Plus, the flagsticks also create problems for first-time links players because they are typically much shorter than the flags in the states. With no reference to compare the size (remember, no trees), it always looks like the green is much farther away than it actually is.

Lesson No. 4: Fairway bunkers equal one-stroke penalty

I have one word for the fairway bunkers: Brutal! The walls are firm and go straight up. That means if your ball hits the lip, it's not going anywhere. You're either in, or you're out. The bunkers are also deeper than what we're used to, making your escape even more precarious. What’s more, the bunkers sometimes seem randomly placed and can be impossible to see. It’s no fun to hit that 350-yard drive along firm ground only to end up in a pit that’s 10 feet deep and takes a ladder to enter. In short, the fairway bunkers are simply a one-shot penalty. Get the ball out with your sand wedge and then advance.

Lesson No. 5: Know Your Putting Line

Even when you get to the green, you’ll face a new challenge: long lag puts on huge greens. An 80-foot putt is never easy to get close. Add a 30-mph wind and you have your work cut out for you. Take care of your line—it’s easy to roll what looks to be a nice putt, only to find a little slope that brings the ball right into the greenside bunker.

When all was said and done, I needed a par at the last hole on Day Two to qualify for my first Open Championship. The play on that last hole perfectly depicts the challenges of links golf. Though a nearly drivable par 4, it had a couple of bad fairway bunkers that needed to be avoided. I went with a 1-iron off the tee to keep them out of play. I was thrilled to see the ball heading right down the fairway, which should have left me with an easy wedge. But in true links fashion, the ball bounced hard left on a mound that was in the middle of the fairway, deflecting my ball (You guessed it!) into a fairway bunker. The lie was so good and the distance was short enough that I thought I could make it out with a short iron. I went for it, catching the very tip of the lip, miraculously kicking the ball up and causing it to finish some 80 yards from the green. A quarter of an inch lower and the ball would have finished at my feet.

My heart was pumping as I attempted to save par to the closely cut pin. I short-sided the approach, chipped to five feet, and missed the putt for a six, missing the Open playoff by a shot. Rats!

Tom Watson captured it best when he said after his first links experience, "This isn't golf, this is luck."  The winner at Royal Birkdale this week will not only be great, he’ll be one of the luckiest in the field too.

Golf Magazine Top 100 Roger Gunn teaches at Tierra Rejada Golf Club in Moorpark, Calif. You can learn more about Roger at www.GolfLevels.com

I hated to see Ernie Els post an 80 on Thursday because I think a British Open in tough conditions without Tiger gives Ernie a good chance to bring home his fourth major.

Ernie and I have been friends for many years. From 1997 to 2000 I was his coach, and based on the conditions at Royal Birkdale, I think Ernie’s got a chance to win because he’s experienced and because he’s very much a feel player. For the next few years, he’ll always be considered a contender at majors, but sometimes fans and commentators misunderstand Ernie’s game.

Everybody thinks Ernie has the greatest swing, but that’s not the case. He has the greatest rhythm and he’s a great player, but he’s inconsistent. If you look Ernie’s stats in driving accuracy (161st) and greens-in-regulation (155th), they tell the real story.

That’s why Ernie continues to work with his new coach Butch Harmon on reducing the amount of rollover of his hands. Will it work? It’s too soon to tell. He won the Honda Classic in March right before he started with Butch, but you can only tell if changes work over time. The end-of-the-year statistics will tell the story and they are unerring.

So how does Ernie score despite his struggles with his swing? The answer is his extraordinary short game: pitching, chipping, sand play and putting. With his rhythm he hits amazing chips and putts. If he misses a drive he can get out of hit with a great recovery shot, a chip and a putt. With his rhythm he hits amazing chips and putts. You saw that when he won the Open Championship at Muirfield in 2002. His length combined with that amazing short game is why he’s an elite player.

Another reason Els could win this week is his flexibility. He’s willing to try something new. While Tiger Woods comes to a major knowing his exact game plan, Ernie can adopt a quick fix for what he needs, get hot and ride a swing-du-jour to a win.

Plus, he’s no stranger to links golf; no South African player is. The Cape is very windy and amateurs are exposed to golf in all conditions. The best young players play in British Amateur and get their start as pros on the European Tour, like Els and Retief Goosen did.

All that said, it’s just so hard to predict an Open Championship. When Tiger Woods announced he wasn’t playing, lots of guys crawled out from under rocks with their eyes quite wide. It should be fun to watch.

(Photo: Bob Martin/SI)

Sports wagering is actually legal in Britain, so even the fans can get in on the risk/reward action by betting on the likely winner. And everyone who knows me knows I like a little extra action, on the golf course or on the poker tables. Here are my picks for this year’s tournament, with a breakdown of the favorites.

The Favorites:

Sergio Garcia (7-1)*:  He would be the first to say that his chances are much better without Tiger in the field. He is playing well, coming off his win at the Players Championship, and his ball-striking may be the best in the world. However, his putting is always a concern and may be enough to seriously undermine his chances. That said, the slower links greens might be an equalizer for the entire field. This might be his week to finally come through in a major.

Padraig Harrington (8-1): He would be a serious threat to repeat if not for a wrist injury. There is no chance of winning if you’re playing out of the hay at the British Open with a bad wrist. He would be off my board.

Ernie Els (8-1): The Big Easy hasn't seriously contended of late. He was close to center stage at Torrey Pines but his putting in key moments wasn't even close. There is a good chance that Els will have one more run at a major before his career is over, but the timing at this year's British doesn't seem right.

Phil Mickelson (8-1):  This type of golf doesn't suit Lefty's game. His higher ball flight, lack of control with the driver, over-aggressiveness, and flop-shot-oriented short game are like oil to the British Open's water. While he's got to love a major without Tiger, it won’t love him back this week.

Lee Westwood (12-1):  He is the best in the top five picks from Vegas odds makers. While playing in front of his home county's fans may seem overwhelming, this Ryder Cup stalwart can handle it. His ball-striking is top notch, he is very strong mentally, and may be one of the better clutch putters in the world (just ask the last few US Ryder Cup captains). A win here will complete his comeback from the depths several years back and be the last piece in a fantastic career.

My Dark Horses:

Robert Karlsson (25-1): The big Swede has become a world player. He has length, touch around the greens, and plenty of experience on the European Tour. He might sneak in to become Sweden's first male major champion.

Anthony Kim (40-1): Why not? He is doing everything right. He can crush it off the tee, has the best stinger 2-iron in the field with Tiger not playing, and he isn't afraid.

My Pick:

Vijay Singh (20-1): This is a great venue for him. The slow greens are perfect for his less than stellar putting and he should have one more major in him before the Champions Tour's riches come. I love picking great ball strikers, and Vijay fits the bill.

*All odds from Caesar’s Palace Race and Sports Book, Las Vegas

We may have a real British Open this week at Royal Birkdale — that means rain, stiff winds and temperatures lower than the scores. And all true fans of this game should be excited to watch.

Foul weather changes everything at a British Open. At tournaments in America, officials deal with summer thunderstorms and rain delays by whisking players off the course in brand new cars to a well-stocked clubhouse and all the comforts of home. But poor weather seldom stops play at the British Open because they don’t often have thunder and lighting, which is associated with heat and humidity. On a links course like Royal Birkdale, which is 100 yards from the Irish Sea, the rain sweeps in from the northwest across the cold sea and brings with it lower-than-normal temperatures and a cool wind.

This affects everything on the course and gives players that grew up in these conditions -- and a few players who didn’t -- a definite advantage.

Rain and wind can affect the spin and launch of the golf ball, which in turn impacts distance and control. It also affects your ability to move -- if you’re not dressed properly for the conditions, your ability to rotate can be restricted. That hampers your golf swing. Wind means added trouble for taller players with wider arcs to their swings. Shorter players with more compact and efficient motions often have an advantage in these conditions. Experience counts too, since adverse weather can change a player’'s plan of attack. Guys who don't play here much might be psychologically uncomfortable and lack confidence in bad weather.

With that in mind, here are the guys who I believe can handle what Mother Nature could bring this week:
Justin Leonard: The 1997 Open Champion is mentally tough and a good ball striker.

Sergio Garcia: He’s finally starting to putt well and has always hit the ball solid and low. Plus, he should have won last year.

Paul Casey: This might be his year — he has lots of power and can handle the weather conditions.

Padraig Harrington: Don’t underestimate his ability to repeat. He loves links courses and won the Irish PGA Championship last week on a links course -- in weather than would have sent Himalayan mountain goats running for shelter.

Trevor Immelman: He hasn’t done much since Augusta, but he has the swing and game for Birkdale.

Anthony Kim: He’s a first-timer riding a wave of confidence, and he just might surprise the field.

Justin Rose: He's coming home to a course he knows well with positive memories of the ’98 Open. He also understands how to play in wet conditions and has been close to breaking through.

(Photo: Jon Super/AP)

Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher David Phillips teaches at the Titleist Performance Institute in Oceanside, Calif.