Golf is a difficult sport to predict because not only do golfers have to compete each other, they have to compete against themselves and the golf course. There’s just too much intangibles.

After Lucas Glover won the US Open Championship, the field is wide open. It just comes to show that even the big guns like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson can have an off-day. Hell, there was even a David Duval sighting when he finished second place at this year’s US Open Championship.

The Open Championship is the next Major PGA tournament, also known as the British Open. It is scheduled on July 16-19 2009 at The Turnberry Resort in Scotland. The British Open hasn’t been held at Turnberry since 1994 when Nick Price won the tournament.

Padraig Harrington of Ireland is a favorite to win at the Open Championship besides of course Mr. Woods. He will be aiming for his third straight British Open Championship. In 2007, Harrington survived a playoff round against Sergio Garcia to take the Claret Jug. He took advantage of Tiger’s absence in 2008 to dominate the British Open by four strokes. Padraig Harrington should be a heavy favorite come July 16.

Tiger Woods missed most of 2008 to nurse a surgically repaired knee. It’s not like he needs the tournament money, right? Woods has been consistent during his return from surgery. He finished only six strokes behind the eventual Master’s winner Angel Cabrera and even picked up a win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He is a three time British Open Champion. Woods won in 2000 during that memorable run, held off Colin Montgomerie in 2005 and survived by two strokes against second runner-up Chris DiMarco in 2006.

When Tiger Woods and Padraig Harrington did play on the same course in 2007, Tiger finished tied for 12th place and 5 strokes behind Harrington.

It’s too bad Phil Mickelson will likely miss The British Open to be with his wife who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. If Lefty played he would be gunning for his fourth major and first Open Championship win.

Newcomer Lucas Glover also has the momentum to be relevant at the British Open. He is capable of pulling off another surprise win.

Sergio Garcia is still searching for his first Major tournament victory. He has spent majority of his career ranked in the top 10 and was thought to be a possible rival to Tiger Woods but his heartbreaking loss to Padraig Harrington at the British Open in 2007 reminded people that he’s not quite there yet. Many think that he is due to win his first Major. This could be Garcia’s tournament to win.

With golf, you never know who’s gonna come away with the win. The only sure thing is that Tiger Woods will always be in the thick of contention.