Half-dozen Scots aim for Open Championship at home of golf

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At 47, time is running out for Colin Mongomerie as he chases his first major title.

United Kingdom at the British Open

Click the flag for analysis of each country's favorites, history in golf's oldest major:

ENGLAND Westwood, Rose, Poulter among favorites this year NORTHERN IRELAND Graeme, Rory bring lot of momentum SCOTLAND Monty's last shot at a major title? WALES 2010 Ryder Cup host winless all-time in Open

Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, Scotland is where golf was invented in the 15th century. The Old Course at St. Andrews -- site of this week's British Open -- is known as the "home of golf." The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews was founded in 1754. Most of the top historical achievements in golf occurred in Scotland, such as the development of the first golf ball and iron-faced clubs as well as the initial set of rules.

Scotland

By the numbers

Population: 5 million '10 British Open entries: 6 Former winners: 22

The first British Open was held in Scotland in Prestwick in 1860. In fact, the first 33 British Opens were held in Scotland. Twenty-two Scots have combined to win 41 British Opens, the last being Paul Lawrie, who birdied the last two holes to beat Jean Van de Velde and Justin Leonard in a playoff at Carnoustie in 1999. Besides St. Andrews, other famous courses in Scotland include Carnoustie, Gleneagles, Muirfield and Royal Troon. There are 556 registered courses in Scotland.

There are six Scots in this year's British Open field: Andrew Coltart, Stephen Gallacher, Martin Laird, Paul Lawrie, Sandy Lyle and Colin Montgomerie.

1. This year's favorite: We'll have to pick Martin Laird. Not only is the Glasgow native the highest-ranked Scot in the world (No. 114), he scored a breakthrough victory on the PGA TOUR last year at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open. He started strongly this year with a tie for fourth at the season-opening SBS Championship, but has just one top-10 finish since. He ranks 95th in the FedExCup standings.

2. Best to have won the Open: That would be James Braid. While the father-son duo of Young Tom Morris and Old Tom Morris each won four British Opens, the nod for the top Scot golfer of all time barely goes to Braid, who won five Claret Jugs during a 10-year span from 1901-10. Braid also won the French Open. Among his lasting gifts to the game? He designed Carnoustie.

3. Best to never have won the Open: Who else but Colin Montgomerie? Monty is one of the most prolific winners in European Tour history, with 31 titles and a record seven consecutive Order of Merits. He also has been a stalwart for the European Ryder Cup team and he serves his first captaincy this fall in Wales. But Montgomerie has never won an Open -- or any major, for that matter. The closest he came was a distant runner-up finish (five shots) to Tiger Woods in 2005.

Laird

4. Best young player: Again, the man is Martin Laird. It took the 27-year-old less than two full seasons to notch his first victory on the PGA TOUR, something a legend such as Montgomerie never accomplished. Laird also won on the Nationwide Tour, so he knows how to close the deal. What Laird, 27, lacks most is experience. He has played in just four majors, none in the past 11 months.

5. Wild card: You've got to go with Paul Lawrie here. There's something about playing in the world's oldest major championship that seems to bring out the bizarre best in him. In 1999, Lawrie overcame a record 10-shot, final-round deficit to beat Jean Van de Velde and Justin Leonard in a playoff at Carnoustie. And last year, Lawrie recorded a double-eagle, holing a 213-yard 4-iron at the par-5 seventh hole at Turnberry to finish tied for 47th. Does Lawrie have any more magic left?