US Open: Overseas challengers

BBC News Online takes a look at the key overseas challengers, ahead of the 100th US Open at Pebble Beach.

Colin Montgomerie
Darren Clarke
Aaron Baddeley
Vijay Singh
Jesper Parnevik
Lee Westwood

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Colin Montgomerie

US Tour victories: 0
International victories: 30
Order of Merit winner: 1993-1999

Having spent seven years at the top of the European Order of Merit table, it seems remarkable Colin Montgomerie will be searching for his first Major when he tees off at Pebble Beach.

Montgomerie has won almost everything golf has to offer. Yet, after 35 attempts he is yet to secure his first Grand Slam.

His form this year has been blistering. He has solved some of his putting problems and, since the Masters, has won twice with six top 10 finishes.

Montgomerie has come close to winning the US Open in the past, finishing runner-up twice (1992 and 1997).

His straight-driving game is perfectly suited for Pebble Beach and if he can find his touch on the lightning fast greens he will certainly be a contender and even, perhaps, a winner.

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Darren Clarke

US Tour victories: 0
International victories: 6

Darren Clarke's heroic victory at the Andersen World Match Play championship earned the Irishman £600,000, but just as importantly the respect of every other player in the game.

Clarke defeated Woods, world number two David Duval and new Players Champion Hal Sutton to take the title in February.

The victory transformed him from a golfer brimming with potential to a player capable of competing and beating the best.

He has not looked back. With two victories in his last two outings, he finally knows he has the game to succeed.

"Before the English Open I believed I could win the US Open," he said.

"Now I know I can win."

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Aaron Baddeley

US Tour victories: 0
International victories: 1

At just 18-years-old, Australia's Aaron Baddeley is the sport's latest teenage sensation.

Baddeley introduced himself to the golfing world in December, winning the Australian Open and becoming the first amateur to do so in nearly four decades.

It was a remarkable achievement. And even more so, when you consider he defeated his idol Greg Norman and Scotland's Colin Montgomerie on the way.

The inevitable comparisons to Tiger Woods started as soon as Baddeley's final putt dropped in Sydney. But Baddeley took it a step further.

"My goal is to become better than Tiger," Baddeley said. "If Tiger is the best player in the world, and I want to be the best player in the world, then I have to be better than Tiger."

Expect the unexpected from a young player who has already earned the respect of his peers.

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Vijay Singh

2000 Masters champion
1997 USPGA champion
US tour victories: 9
International victories: 30

The US Masters champion is a familiar face at Pebble Beach, having finished second to Tiger at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in February.

Alhough Singh has recently been struggling with the putter, it should not be forgotten that he has won two of the last six Majors.

The steady putter he displayed at Augusta should put him in a position to win if he can maintain his focus for 72 holes.

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Jesper Parnevik

US tour victories: 4
International victories: 8

The Swede has enjoyed a spectacular season on the US PGA tour, including a pair of wins and eight top-10 finishes in his first 11 starts.

A magnificent iron player, Parnevik's US Open record has been solid rather than spectacular.

His tied 14th at the Olympic GC in San Francisco in 1998 is his best effort in recent years.

Still searching for a first Major, if he remains consistent off the tee and makes his putts, his middle game - among the best on Tour - could prove too much for his rivals come Sunday.

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Lee Westwood

US tour victories: 1
International victories: 14

Lee Westwood's victory in this year's Deutsche Bank Open was his eighth European tour title in two years.

It confirmed the tremendous progress the 'Worksop Wonder' has made and proved a milestone in his career, not least because he had overcome the challenge of world number one Tiger Woods on the way.

Westwood has now won titles in America, Australia, Malaysia and Japan, though his search for an elusive Major continues.

Six holes from home, Westwood was leading the 1999 US Masters before fading to sixth - and his US Open record is not too shabby either.

He was seventh at the Olympic Club in 1998 but missed the cut at Pinehurst last year.

As one of Europe's straightest and longest hitters he looks sure to power his way up the leaderboard.

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