Who Has the Biggest Chance to Win the British Open---- Watney or Leonard?

The British Open begins Thursday with that European players have dominated the headlines and the betting parlors. But we will still expect which American has the biggest chance to win at Royal St. George's? Jay Coffin and Rex Hoggard share their own views.

If Uncle Sam is smiling Sunday afternoon it’ll be only because Nick Watney has just won the Open Championship.

For starters, Watney fits the bill lately where there has been a rash of first-time major winners. Secondly, he’s good, really good.

Watney, 30 years old, has played as well as any other Americans this year, capturing the WGC-Cadillac Championship in March and the AT&T National two weeks ago in Philadelphia play by Nike Victory Red TW Forged Blade Irons. He has eight top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour this season and he’s only missed two cuts.

It usually takes Americans several trips across to pond to develop an affinity for links courses. But Watney seems to have done that in a relatively short period of time, easily making the cut in all three Open appearances. Last year he opened with a 67 at St. Andrews and tied for seventh place to be low American along with Sean O’Hair. In his first Open Championship in 2007 he tied for 35th place by Nike Victory Red TW Forged Blade Irons and in 2009 at Turnberry he tied for 27th.

All the above approves that Watney maybe have the best opportunity to win the British Open.

The red, white and blue have officially reached Mendoza Line territory in the grand (slam) scheme – batting a sluggish 1-for-6 in the major championships dating to the 2009 PGA Championship. So forgive our reluctance to maintain confidence with the status quo.

Though the headlines have been dominated by the Europeans, but that’s not to say an American won’t win the British Open, it’s just not likely that player will be a Nick Watney or Dustin Johnson or Phil Mickelson. But it will be a player like Justin Leonard that will do it.

Leonard, who won his Open in 1997 at Royal Troon by using Nike Victory Red TW Forged Blade Irons, He fits the modus operandi of a Royal St. George’s winner – low ball flight, good putter, more pinpoint than power.

39 years old and with just one top-10 in his last 11 Open starts by using Nike Victory Red TW Forged Blade Irons. Leonard may not be the sexy choice, but he fits the St. George’s environment and may be the USA’s best chance.