With nine Buick Invitational wins at Torrey Pines between them, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are obvious contenders this week. There are too many good players in good form for it to be a two-man show, however. Here are five more who are definitely capable of stealing the limelight.

Sergio Garcia

Few would have considered him a possible winner of the U.S. Open prior to his victory at the Players Championship in May. But with his improving putting stroke and the confidence that must have accompanied the biggest win of his career so far, he should be pumped up for this one. And if he strikes the ball anywhere near as well as he did at TPC Sawgrass (77.8% of greens in regulation), he will surely avoid the double-bogeys that will derail others.

U.S. Open appearances: 8 Best finish: T3 (2005)

Luke Donald

You would think the quiet, unflappable Englishman with the smooth, unhurried swing might have the ideal disposition for a U.S. Open. But the 30-year-old has never finished higher than 12th, and even though his sweet rhythm suggests he will miss a fairway only very rarely, he is in fact 141st in driving accuracy on the PGA Tour this year, and is finding only 59.44% of greens in regulation. He obviously likes Torrey Pines, though, having recorded three top-10s (including two joint runner-up finishes) in five outings here.

U.S. Open appearances: 4 Best Finish: T12 (2006)

Miguel Angel Jimenez

With 15 European Tour victories, including his playoff win over Oliver Wilson at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in England last month, Jimenez is a world-class player with bags of experience and a handful of decent finishes at the U.S. Open. Finding over 70% of greens in regulation so far this season, the 44-year-old is leading the European Tour’s Order of Merit. Don’t be surprised if he beats fellow Spaniard Garcia to a major.

U.S. Open appearances: 7 Best Finish: T2 (2000)

Anthony Kim

Everyone knew the 22-year-old Californian could play, but his impressive win at the Wachovia Championship in May showed he now has the necessary maturity to go with his immense talent. There’s still a lot of learning that needs to be done, of course, and he may yet be too young to effectively plod through four grueling days of a U.S. Open. But he made the cut at Oakmont last year, and with his length (300.5 yards average drive this year), he’s unlikely to be intimidated by the longest course in U.S. Open history.

U.S. Open appearances: 1 Best finish: T20 (2007)

Justin Leonard

Considering how long it seems the Texan has been around, it’s a little surprising to learn that Leonard is still only 35 years old. The 1997 British Open champion, Leonard earned his 12th PGA Tour victory last weekend in Memphis and is having another typically solid season without ever really being included among any tournament’s list of favorites. Currently second on the PGA Tour in greens in regulation (69.29%) and 10th in putting (1.748 putts per GIR), he is playing well enough to land his second major.

U.S. Open appearances: 13 Best Finish: T12 (2002)

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