1. Luke Donald: Has three top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour this season. Was once the world's No. 1 player. A win here would get him back into the top 10 of the World Rankings (currently 18th).

2. Phil Mickelson: The sentimental choice who is running out of chances to complete the career Grand Slam. Having his worst season as a pro with no top-10 finishes. But of his six runner-up finishes in this event, his first came in 1999 to Payne Stewart at Pinehurst.

3. Retief Goosen: Was the third-round leader the last time the Open was played at Pinehurst (2005) before collapsing with a final-round 81. recent history says no chance for the two-time Open champion, but with his success in this tournament, he could contend.

Here are the starting times for the opening two rounds Thursday and Friday.