Open Championship power rankings: Top ten at Royal Birkdale

SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND - APRIL 24: The Claret Jug, the Open Championship trophy, in front of the clubhouse at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, the host course for the 2017 Open Championship during a Media day for the 146th Open Championship on April 24, 2017 in Southport, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

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MUNICH, GERMANY – JUNE 25: Sergio Garcia of Spain tees off on the 2nd hole during the final round of the BMW International Open at Golfclub Munchen Eichenried on June 25, 2017 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) /

For the better part of two decades, Garcia carried around the weight of being one of the best players never to win a major. With his Masters victory back in April, you could see years of self-doubt evaporate as his final putt rolled in. Twice a runner up (at Carnoustie in 2007 and Royal Liverpool in 2014), Garcia will surely carry the memory of the 18^th green at Augusta National with him to Royal Birkdale.

While that Masters moment will live forever, it’s a bit surprising that Garcia’s breakthrough didn’t come at the Open. In 20 career appearances, dating back to his amateur days in 1996, Garcia has ten top-ten finishes in the Open, including three straight coming into this year. His last crack at Royal Birkdale didn’t go so well – Garcia tied for 51^st in 2008 – but it’s hard to ignore this year’s form.

Now ranked fifth in the world, Garcia would absolutely turn 2017 into the year of his life with a win at Royal Birkdale. His ball-striking is spot-on right now, and if he can get even average results with his putter, he’ll stick around the top of the leaderboard right up through the weekend.

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