Who's In, Who's Out at the British Open

It's never too early to get major championship talk a-stirring, with the practice rounds beginning in less than two weeks at Royal Birkdale.

Two players, Shaun Micheel and some other guy I can't think of, have already withdrawn from the British Open, but the field is nearly complete with the international qualifying wrapping up, and some familiar names will be present on the links.

Davis Love III, Paul Goydos and Rich Beem were three of seven golfers to qualify yesterday at the Dearborn, Michigan site with Matt Kuchar and Alex Cejka headlining the seven qualifiers at TPC Michigan.

Goydos, runner-up to Sergio Garcia in the Players Championship after a gust of wind killed his chances in the playoff, will be making his first appearance in the British and is fairly stoked about the opportunity.

"This was my No. 1 goal for the year," he said. "If nothing else happened this year, I wanted to play in the British Open. A lot of other good things have happened on top of that, but this really has been my No. 1 goal."

Some of the less fortunate souls that missed out were Ryan Moore, Kevin Na, Bubba Watson, Jose Maria Olazabal and Darren Clarke.Clarke, a native of Northern Ireland, failed to qualify at the International Qualifying held in Berkshire, England, but still has a chance to make it in the field if he can finish among the top five at the European Open or the Scottish Open this week or next. If he fails to do so, it will be his first missed British since 1991.

The Open is always a fun tournament to watch, because no matter what happens, John Daly and David Duval will be in the field. Since they've won the Claret Jug in the past, they are invited back until they turn 60, something that will be amazing in itself if both can live that long (I'm taking the under on Daly).

For a full list of players in the field so far, check the The Open Championship website or make it a drinking game between friends. Get a player correct that's in the field, give a drink, get their exemptions correct give five drinks, call out an amateur in the field, shotgun. Hey, it's more exciting than what's become of the Jay Bilas drinking game.