Rory McIlroy arrived at Carnoustie hoping to finish as the low amateur. After a bogey-free 68, one shot better than his idol Tiger Woods, the 18-year-old from Northern Ireland can't be blamed for starting to dream about the Claret Jug.

After a career year in 2005, Paul McGinley slipped all the way down to No. 96 in the world rankings. A quick session with Dr. Bob Rotella and a Thursday 67 that surprised even him have the 2002 Ryder Cup hero feeling much better.

After Michael Campbell realized his goal of winning a major championship two years ago, he fell into a funk that had him questioning his desire to compete. But the New Zealander is back on track and in the hunt at Carnoustie.

He canned a monstrous 100-foot birdie putt, got a "weird" drop off some TV cables and avoided most of the trouble at Carnoustie. And in the end, Tiger Woods finished with a solid 69 that left him near the lead at the Open Championship.

Jim Furyk (70) and Phil Mickelson (71) started their Open Championships with good rounds that could have been better. Mickelson struggled on the greens while Furyk got off to a bit of a slow start, and both bogeyed the closing hole.

Stewart Cink didn't break 80 in either of his two rounds at the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie. He was eager to return this week, though, and enjoyed the course and the creativity required in an opening 69 that his him in contention.

No player entered the Open Championship as hot as K.J. Choi, who won two of his last three starts. The South Korean kept it up Thursday at Carnoutie, carding a 2-under 69 that could have been much lower save a sloppy finish.

While most scotch drinkers in America would get not so much as a raised eyebrow from a bartender at home if they ordered their drink with ice, in Scotland that might elicit a dressing down from a barkeep in Scotland.

When the 136th Open Championship commences Thursday morning at Carnoustie, it won't take long for the contenders to separate themselves from the pretenders. Links golf does that, and there's nothing a player can do to hide his flaws.

Who will win the 136th Open Championship at Carnoustie? Who could surprise us all and walk away with the coveted Claret Jug? No one knows for sure, but our panel of PGATOUR.com experts have an idea and they've put their picks in writing.

Padraig Harrington takes offense at Nick Faldo's comments that the current generation of European stars is too chummy with each other to win majors. Nice guys can win he says, adding that he expects a European breakthrough to occur soon.

Drew Weaver surprised even himself in June by becoming the first American to win the British Amateur since 1979. At Carnoustie, he's making new friends, soaking up the atmosphere and keeping his golf game in perspective.

Ernie Els' performance in the majors thus far this year has been anything but encouraging, what with his missed cut at the Masters and his pedestrian tie for 51st at the U.S. Open. But some have labeled the Big Easy a favorite this week.

So many times he's been so close to winning a major championship, and so many times he's watched someone else hoist the hardware. But Scotland's Colin Montgomerie comes to Carnoustie fresh off a win and flush with confidence.

Lucas Glover rolled the dice and hopped on a plane for Scotland, not knowing if he would get into the Open Championship as an alternate. It proved a good move, because by the time Glover's plane landed, his gamble had paid off.

Before last Sunday, Jonathan Byrd wasn't even in the Open Championship field. After a win in the John Deere Classic -- and a celebration at Waffle House -- Byrd has settled in at Carnoustie and is ready to play.

Now that PGATOUR.com's Mark Spoor has sampled fish and chips, seen locals playing cricket and discovered that television here leaves much to be desired, all that's left is to see the inside of a pub and run into some soccer hooligans.

Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain withdrew from the Open Championship Tuesday, citing recurring pain in his knee. He hasn't played since the U.S. Open, and hopes to return to action in time for the PGA Championship next month.

Until last week, Boo Weekley had never been outside the United States. But after only a few days getting over the culture shock of his first trip to Scotland, he's eager to get his first Open Championship started.

Forget that Phil Mickelson bogeyed No. 18 twice at Loch Lomond to lose the Scottish Open last Sunday. Remember, he says, that he played well enough to contend. Now, if he can just get that wayward driver to cooperate at Carnoustie ...

In his latest blog post, Trevor Immelman revels in all the fun he's having with his young son Jake, who will celebrate his birthday on Wednesday. Immelman also praises the course set-up at Carnoustie, and is eager to see how the Open shakes out.

Content and happy with a new daughter, Tiger Woods now wants a new claret jug to go with the three others already in his trophy case. Luckily for him, Carnoustie is expected to be more accommodating than it was in 1999.

It didn't take PGATOUR.com Coordinating Producer Mark Spoor long to discover that you don't go to Scotland without an umbrella. Nor do you go there expecting to find your favorite foods prepared the way you like them.

The murky creek known as Barry Burn might not look too impressive as it snakes its way through the links at Carnoustie. But every fan on hand is mesmerized by the havoc it can cause, and every player fears what it can do to his scorecard.

Judging by the Ryder Cup and the world rankings, European golf has never been stronger than it is right now. Europe's top players know they need to step up, says Doug Ferguson, and end a major drought that has reached eight long years.

Paul Lawrie is tired of not receiving the credit he believes he's due for winning the 1999 Open at Carnoustie best remembered for Jean Van de Velde. But he knows the chances of changing the tide of public opinion are increasingly unlikely.

Instead of trying to redeem himself at Carnoustie this week, Jean Van de Velde is undergoing a battery of tests in an effort to diagnose a mysterious ailment that causes pain and nausea, and has put both his life and his game on hold.

Seve Ballesteros reluctantly announced his retirement Monday at Carnoustie, where he made his Open Championship debut 27 years ago. The charismatic Spaniard has struggled recently, but was one of the game's greatest shotmakers.

Who are the players to watch at this week's Open Championship? According to the TOUR Insider, we could be in for some surprises, including why he likes this year's U.S. Open champion to do well here as well.

The rain and wind were so strong Monday morning that Tiger Woods didn't even bother with an umbrella. Later, Phil Mickelson showed up in shorts and flip-flops. The guys who endured the worst of it hope they're more prepared for later.

Fresh off his honeymoon and a final-round 64 at the Scottish Open, Luke Donald believes this could be the major where he rises from consistent contender to champion. As good as he feels, though, he knows he's not yet mastered links golf.

Good ol' boy Boo Weekley finds out all about Jean Van de Velde and Paul Lawrie. Plus, several players are still waiting for their clubs to arrive, Tiger watches TV, Ben Curtis turns football promoter, Peter Thomson reminisces, and more.

Big-time champions from Sam Snead to Phil Mickelson have blown majors but accomplished many other great things. In the case of Jean Van de Velde, says John Maginnes, most of us will only remember his catastrophe at Carnoustie.

No one is more linked to Seve Ballesteros than Jose Maria Olazabal, his longtime protege and Ryder Cup partner. Olazabal was shocked at Ballesteros' announcement, but quickly remembered the good times they shared on the golf course. 

In the first of a daily look at life at the Open Championship, Coordinating Producer Mark Spoor recounts the travails of his travels, why he should have brought golf clubs, and the mysteries of why some drinks taste better across the pond.

Tiger Woods, Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly were among the players who got a sneak peek at Carnoustie on Sunday, and most liked the wider fairways and more forgiving rough. David Frost, however, thinks the set-up might be too easy.

Tiger Woods will play a practice round with his buddy Thomas Bjorn Monday morning at Carnoustie. Bjorn thinks the Open could be wide open unless, he says, Woods has taken time out from fatherhood to ramp up like he usually does.

Tiger Woods' mastery of links golf means that anything is possible, says 1985 champion Sandy Lyle. Plus, Jonathan Byrd is overjoyed to have earned a last-minute spot and Gregory Havret hopes to fare better than Jean Van de Velde.

Carnoustie hosted its first Open Championship in 1931, a delicate time for golf in Scotland. And, says Brett Avery, the great Tommy Armour's triumph provoked mixed feelings in both the United Kingdom and the United States. 

Heard the rumor that Steve Williams is retiring as Tiger Woods' caddie? A lot of people have recently, but Williams says it isn't true and he doesn't know how it got started. All he knows is that he'll be with Woods, as always, at Carnoustie.

Four 36-hole qualifying events in Scotland ended Tuesday with 12 players punching their tickets. Scott Drummond and Steven Alker got in, but Thomas Levet, Marcel Siem and Scott Dunlap were among those who didn't make it through. 

TNT Emmy Award-winning essayist Jim Huber will be returning to Carnoustie for the Open Championship. In this exclusive column, Huber recalls his first trip to the tiny village in northeast Scotland -- and the family that opened their home to him.

For Americans, the true beauty of the Open Championship is that it reminds us that the game is not ours, says John Maginnes. And seeing a player like Tom Watson or Tiger Woods execute a unique links game plan is mesmerizing. 

The total prize money available this year is $400,000 more than last year, and the winner will pocket a cool $1.5 million. Plus, Jose Maria Olazabal is racing to get back in shape and Ian Poulter appreciates the camera and phone policy.

From the first time it staged the Open Championship back in 1931 up to its most controversial hosting in 1999, Carnoustie has loomed large over the history of golf's global championship. As part of our special coverage of the 2007 Open Championship, we present a collection of stories reflecting on Carnoustie and some of the golf history recorded there.

The Carnoustie Golf Links is a curmudgeonly course skirting the links land between the North Sea and a small, dour town. But, says Dave Shedloski, it is also magical, a place cloaked in mystique and reeking of spiritual turbulence.

The 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie was nothing if not memorable. As Carnoustie prepares to host again, players from Phil Mickelson to Billy Andrade to Fred Funk recall their experiences during a 1999 Open that remains unforgettable. 

At the time the Open Championship was born, Carnoustie was in its formative years as a 10-hole layout. By the 1930s, though, it had been improved to the point where it could host an Open, and now ranks among the finest in Scotland.

So which is it? Did Paul Lawrie grab the Open Championship at Carnoustie in 1999? Or did Jean Van de Velde just gift-wrap the Claret Jug and hand it to to him? The arguments on both sides are as strong as the memories of that amazing ending.

While St. Andrews has evolved into a center of education, history and golf, Carnoustie is a humble little town best known for textiles and barley. Oh yeah, it's got one heck of a golf course, as the world will again discover this week.

A big part of Tom Watson's Hall of Fame career are his five Open Championship victories, but a key one at Carnoustie stands out. That's where he had to harken back to his youth in order to appreciate the unique demands of links golf.

The Open Championship has generated some eyebrow-raising numbers since it was first played in 1860. Mark Spoor unveils some of the most amazing numbers posted by players ranging from Old Tom Morris to Tom Weiskopf to Tom Watson.

Ryan Moore, Charley Hoffman, Jerry Kelly and Duffy Waldorf were among a dozen players who punched their tickets Monday in the final U.S. showdown. Among those missing out were Pablo Martin, Brad Faxon and Camilo Villegas.

Graeme McDowell and Miguel Angel Jimenez were among those securing their spots at Carnoustie on Monday. The 36-hole shootout was briefly halted so a pin placement could be changed, causing a huge ruckus among the players.

Even tournament officials believe the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie was tougher than it should have been. Thanks to favorable weather that is producing less rough, they say, the famous links should play easier this year.

Jean Van de Velde and Jamie Spence are among several European Tour players wondering why the final qualifier is in London the day after the French Open. The R&A says the European Tour agreed with its scheduling.

Nearly 400 years after golf first appeared on Scotland's Tayside coast, legendary Carnoustie, site of some of the game's most memorable performances, is set to play host to its seventh Open Championship.

Australian Peter Fowler followed up a deflating first-round 74 with a stellar 64 to join countrymen Ewan Porter, Ben Bunny and Scott Laycock in qualifying for the Open Championship in the International Final Qualifying-Australasia event.