By Tom Edrington

The spotlight is shining directly on the likes of Phil Mickelson, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood this week as the field goes through final practice round days at Congressional Country Club.

The U.S. Open has had a history lately of rank-and-file winners like Graeme McDowell last year at Pebble Beach and longshot Lucas Glover in 2009, Angel Cabrera in 2007, Geoff Ogilvy in 2006 and Michael Campbell in 2005.

Don't be surprised if the winner is, well, surprising come Sunday afternoon at the long and testy Congressional.

Here's a breakdown of some of this week's players to watch:

K.J. Choi:

He flies totally under the radar. He's quiet and unassuming but has found his way into the major championship arena. He was right there at the Masters then stepped up and took his game to another level to win the Players Championship. He loves the crowds and they are really warming up to him with their support. He plays a baby-fade tee shot that should help him stay in the fairways this week. Solid iron player who proved he could get it done with the putter at the TPC Sawgrass last month.

Luke Donald:

Everyone's favorite. He's one of two 12-1 co-favorites per United Kingdom gaming establishment Ladbrokes. Donald is a precision iron player with a magnificent short game and deft putting touch. The driver will be the key to his suceess as he tends to get wild off the tee now and then and that won't bode well at Congressional.

Phil Mickelson:

Another co-favorite with Donald (12-1). Mickelson is a pure crowd favorite. He's come so very close in this championship and you have to wonder how many more realistic shots he'll have at the title. Phil's main task this week will be to find fairways. He has the short game to keep himself in contention and he'll need his putter to be spot-on if he hopes to be in the hunt on Sunday.

Lee Westwood:

The world's No. 2 player behind Donald carries the unwanted tag "best player to never win a major." Westwood's putter has been the club that has held him back in the past. He has the length to handle this nearly 7,400 yard golf course, good iron play but he'll have to be very sharp on and around the greens if he hopes to get rid of that "never won a major" tag.

Martin Kaymer:

The reigning PGA Champion hit a power fade off the tee and has the iron game to contend as he showed in winning the PGA at Whistling Straits last summer. He's had an unexciting year so far and will need to step up if he wants to be anywhere near the top of this week's leaderboard.

Steve Stricker:

A lot of observers are making Stricker the man to beat this week and the best American hope. He's accurate off the tee, hits great iron shots and is a magnificent putter. He's had a less-than-impressive record in the U.S. Open. He tied for 58th last year at Pebble Beach and tied for 33rd in 2009. Best finish was a sixth back in 2006.

Ian Poulter:

Had a big win this season at the BMW Match Play when he beat Luke Donald in the final. He's accurate off the tee and has missed only one cut in the last five year and that was due to a withdrawal in 2008.

Matt Kuchar:

He's the third-best ranked American player in the field behind Mickelson and Stricker. He has length and accuracy, he's a consistent player and consistency is the key to winning the U.S. Open. He tied for sixth last year at Pebble Beach.

Bubba Watson:

It all depends on the driver. Watson is fearless on the golf course and plays with abandon but will need to tone it down a bit and find the fairways this week. He's a good iron player who hits a lot of greens and is an excellent putter inside 10 feet. He's won three tournaments in the past season and a half.

Jonathan Byrd:

He's quietly having a great season on the PGA Tour. He fits the "underdog-longshot" mold of players who can win an Open. Drives the ball well, good iron player who putts well enough to contend.

These are just some of the players to watch this week. There are more who have the talent to step up but they will need to handle the arena and the pressure of the U.S. Open.

Ladbrokes rates 22-year-old Rory McIlroy at 16-1 but after his collapse the final round at Augusta, there still has to be a twinge of doubt about his ability to close. Dustin Johnson is 25-1. He has enormous length but needs to find a better short game than he has shown thus far this season. Like Johnson, young Hunter Mahan is a 25-1 shot who has shown talent in spurts but will need to perform at a new level to contend this week.

It's a huge, 156-man field that goes after the coveted title starting Thursday. It's a day-long marathon that goes from sun-up to sunset. It is now a four-day tournament, the old 36-holes on the final day format was ended after Ken Venturi's near-collapse in the heat at this same spot 47 years ago in 1964.

There should be one man left standing on Sunday but not even that is a guarantee. The USGA still uses the 18-hole playoff format and hopefully it won't come into play.

 

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U.S. Open 2011 Preview: K.J. Choi Is Cool, Calm and Ready To Collect