Big names will contend, but golf’s biggest name will finally win a major again, Globe golf writer Michael Whitmer says of the year’s third major:

Contenders:

Padraig Harrington

Age: 40. World ranking: 59

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British Open starts/cuts made: 15/14

Low round: 66

Best finish: Won (2007, 2008)

Might win because: Don’t let the world ranking fool you. Harrington is playing well again, and you can bet he’ll be focused and prepared this week, no matter what kind of bad weather or bad breaks get thrown his way. Harrington has gone six straight tournaments (four on the PGA Tour, two on the European) without finishing worse than 16th, and he’s contended in the first two majors: He tied for eighth at the Masters, and tied for fourth at the US Open. He looks ready to win his third Claret Jug.

Louis Oosthuizen

Age: 29. World ranking: 18

British Open starts/cuts made: 5/2

Low round: 65

Best finish: Won (2010)

Might win because: A playoff loss at the Masters and a missed cut at the US Open should have Oosthuizen plenty motivated to add to the British Open title he won two years ago at St. Andrews. But he hasn’t done much since losing to Bubba Watson at Augusta, followed by a win at the Malaysian Open the next week. Oosthuizen missed cuts at the Players, Memorial, and the US Open, and was 24th last week at the Scottish Open. Hard to believe, but Oosthuizen has played in 15 majors, and missed the cut 10 times.

Rory McIlroy

Age: 23. World ranking: 2

British Open starts/cuts made: 4/4

Low round: 63

Best finish: Third (2010)

Might win because: McIlroy has only played in one tournament since shooting 77-73 at the US Open and being sent home early. He tied for 10th at the Irish Open, capped by a final-round 67 in his back yard at Royal Portrush. The British is the major McIlroy wants the most; he’s made the cut all four times, but only threatened once, when he opened with 63 two years ago at St. Andrews on his way to a T3. McIlroy’s best golf this year came early in the season; can he hit it straight enough and avoid the big number?

Rickie Fowler

Age: 23. World ranking: 20

British Open starts/cuts made: 2/2

Low round: 67

Best finish: T5 (2011)

Might win because: Fowler has cooled off a bit since his impressive run two months ago, when he tied for 10th in New Orleans, won his first PGA Tour event, in Charlotte (beating McIlroy in a playoff), finished a shot behind winner Matt Kuchar at the Players, and went T5 at Colonial. Now that he’s won on tour, bagging a major is next on the to-do list. This might be the place, and now might be the time: Fowler has played the British twice, and done well twice, with a T14 in his debut two years ago, and T5 last year.

The winner:

Tiger Woods

Age: 36. World ranking: 4

British Open starts/cuts made: 15/14

Low round: 64

Best finish: Won (2000, 2005, 2006)

Will win because: While the Brits want to see local lads Lee Westwood or Luke Donald win, Woods goes off as the betting favorite. He’s not the only player in the field with three victories this year – Brendan Grace has a trio of European Tour titles – but by winning at Bay Hill, Muirfield Village, and Congressional, Woods has shown he can win again, on great courses and against top fields. He’s played in the last two British Opens at Royal Lytham: T22 as an amateur in 1996, T25 in 2001. Third time will be the charm.