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Unlikely champs par for course at British Open

Australian golfer Adam Scott. left. walks along with his caddy Steve Williams during a practice round at Royal St. George's Golf Club, Sandwich, England, Sunday, July, 10, 2011. The British Open Golf Championship will be held at the course from July 14-17th 2011. Australian golfer Adam Scott. left. walks along with his caddy Steve Williams during a practice round at Royal St. George's Golf Club, Sandwich, England, Sunday, July, 10, 2011. The British Open Golf Championship will be held at the course from July 14-17th 2011. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
By Paul Newberry
AP National Writer / July 10, 2011

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SANDWICH, England—The British Open has a knack for producing champions that don't fit the mold.

In 2003, the most recent Open held at Royal St. George's was won by Ben Curtis, an American barely known at the time beyond family and friends. A year ago, South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen gave more hope to the underdogs.

But Geoff Ogilvy figures this year's winner will be a familiar name. Luke Donald is ranked No. 1 in the world and arrives on a major roll after winning the Scottish Open on Sunday. Rory McIlroy is, of course, the prohibitive favorite after his astounding performance at the U.S. Open.

Neither has to worry about Tiger Woods, who's sitting out his second straight major because of an ailing leg.

The British Open begins on Thursday.

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