World's best look forward to the challenge of Muirfield

The Open Championship, golf's oldest major, begins tomorrow at famed Muirfield Golf Club in Gullane, Scotland.  The course is described is described as being the fairest test in the Open Championship rotation, with no hidden obstacles; everything is right in front of you.  However, that is easier said than done.  With the fairways being rock-hard due to the weather and the constantly changing winds, the player with the best short game and/or ball-striking over the four days will be the 142nd Open Champion.  Defending champion Ernie Els was the champ in 2002, the last time the event was staged at Muirfield.  The South African is on the short list of favorites this week.  Don't read too much into his missed cut last week in the Aberdeen Asset Scottish Open; there's not an event that excites him more than the Open.  Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, the winner of the Alstom Open de France two weeks ago, has recorded three wins but has missed five cuts in his last eight worldwide events.  He has a passion for links golf, and it would be surprising if he's not in the hunt for the title on Sunday.  American Phil Mickelson comes in on the heels of his first win on British soil in last week's Scottish Open.  The four-time major winner has had a "hate/love" relationship with links golf, but seems to have adapted over the past 4-5 years.  His best finish in the Open was in 2011, where he finished in a tie for second behind Darren Clarke at Royal St. George's.  A plethora of Englishmen will be looking to build off Justin Rose's triumph at the U.S. Open last month.  Lee Westwood has employed Sean Foley as his swing coach in an effort to track down his first major.  Foley, coincidentally, is Rose's coach.  "Westy" will have the home support this week and his major drought might just end this week.  Luke Donald comes in having contended at the U.S. Open, but put in a mediocre performance at the French Open.  He'll be looking to use his short game and ball-striking talents to his advantage this week.  Paul Casey, the winner of the Irish Open three weeks ago, is a dark horse pick this week as he has built his game up after struggling with injuries and poor play the last two-and-a-half years.  Ian Poulter has had an extremely disappointing season so far, but he's been experimenting with different putters over the past few weeks and playing in the Open might just give him the spark he needs to have a special week.  For the Scottish fans, Paul Lawrie and Martin Laird look to be the favorites.  Lawrie has had a disappointing season, with his putting being the main reason for his struggles.  Laird won on the PGA Tour earlier this season and finished in the tied-fifth in the Scottish Open, so he'll be looking to delight the home fans.  In the end, it's the "Open" Championship, so it's a guess about who will be the champion.  There have been many surprise winners over the years, but this year a proven winner will triumph.  We'll find out who it'll be come Sunday night.