Has been a reliable performer ever since with frequent top-10 finishes -
Has been a reliable performer ever since with frequent top-10 finishes – including nine in 1996 – if not as many wins as he would have liked. Eventually, beat Hale Irwin in a play-off after making a birdie on the first extra hole. Missed the cut at last month’s US Open after two 72s.KENNY PERRY Born 10.08.1960 Country United States Turned pro 1982 Best position in a major Tied 3rd (US Open 2003) World ranking 11th Odds 40-1After joining PGA Tour in 1987 Perry had to wait until 1991 for his first championship, the Memorial, where he hit a then-course record nine-under par to move into the lead. This year Scott’s best performance was a third in the WGC Accenture Matchplay championship where he lost in the semi-final to the eventual winner Tiger Woods. He won the Alfred Dunhill PGA Championship on the Southern Africa Tour and also recorded an 11th placed finish on the PGA Tour in the Honda Classic. In 16 events he compiled five top-10 finishes, including three thirds.
In 2001, he finished 13th in the Volvo Order of Merit in his first full season on the European Tour. This year, Leonard has been somewhat erratic, winning the Honda Classic in March with a 24-under par final total, after a first round 63, but he has also missed two cuts and had a host of mediocre scores.ADAM SCOTT Born 16.07.1980 Country Australia Turned pro 2000 Best position in a major Tied 9th (Masters 2002) World ranking 42nd Odds 100-1Young Australian showed his undoubted talent in 2000 when he secured his European Tour card with just eight starts as a professional, clinching his place with a sixth-placed finish at the Linde German Masters in October. Having endured a dip of form, he played well in 2002, winning the Worldcom Classic in April. But his play-off effort was ragged as Lawrie steamed through. He was in the limelight again in the spring of 1998 when he held his nerve impressively to win The Players Championship and he almost won The Open again in 1999 when he tied with Paul Lawrie and Jean Van de Velde after 72 holes. A long hitter with a deft putting touch who is coached by the US golfing guru Peter Kostis.JUSTIN LEONARD Born 15.06.1972 Country United States Turned pro 1994 Best position in a major Winner (Open 1997) World ranking 13th Odds 33-1Came of age in 1997 when he won the Open at Royal Troon with a final round of 65, six under par, to leave Darren Clarke and Jesper Parnevik trailing three shots in his wake. After a solid rather than spectacular showing in 2002, he has made his big breakthrough this season with European Tour victories in the ANZ Championship in Sydney and the Benson and Hedges International Open at The Belfry.
He won the English Amateur Championship in 1999 and 2000, and by the following summer had claimed his first professional victory in the Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship. Has finished tied third twice and tied fourth once this year on the PGA Tour but was tied 42nd in last month’s US Open.PAUL CASEY Born 21.07.77 Country England Turned pro 2000 Best position in a major Missed cut (Open 2002; USPGA 2002; US Open 2003) World ranking 32nd Odds 80-1Casey quickly established himself as one of the most exciting players on the European Tour after an outstanding career on the US college circuit. Last year he won three times and finished runner-up in the Masters. Goosen’s victory in Spain sealed his place at the top of the European Order of Merit for 2001, making him the first non-European to win the award since Greg Norman in 1982.