A COMPLETE unknown could emerge from the pack and upstage the world's top players this week.

That was the prediction from BBC Television on-course commentator Scott Drummond today ahead of the 143rd staging of the golf's greatest event.

Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Henrik Stenson and Tiger Woods are among the favourites to lift the Claret Jug on Merseyside.

However, Scottish golfer Drummond reckons a lesser-known name may well come to the fore on the monstrous 7,312-yard links course in the coming days.

He famously stunned the golfing world in the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth back in 2004 when he came from nowhere to triumph.

The Shrewsbury-born player's thrilling two-shot triumph over Angel Cabrera in the European Tour's flagship event catapulted him from 435th to 95th in the world rankings.

The 40-year-old is working behind the microphone at Royal Liverpool this week and will, like sports fans everywhere, be fascinated to see who emerges triumphant.

And Drummond is refusing to rule out the prospect of another Paul Lawrie, Ben Curtis or Todd Hamilton, who won at Carnoustie in 1999, Sandwich in 2003 and Royal Troon in 2004 respectively, prevailing.

He said: "The strength and depth of fields at The Open and in Majors these days are absolutely phenomenal. There is always one guy at these tournaments who has a really good week and ends up finishing highly or, in some cases, even winning it.

"Of course, the chances are that one of the top players, a Rory McIlroy, a Justin Rose or an Adam Scott, will perform well and end up lifting the Claret Jug.

"But there are so many good players who are playing well that it is impossible to rule out somebody that few people have ever heard of pulling off a win."

Drummond has played in The Open on four occasions in the past and was in the field when it was last staged at Hoylake back in 2006.

He missed the cut on that occasion as Tiger Woods stormed to a two-shot victory over Chris Di Marco with a staggering 18-under-par total.

But that event was playedduring a heatwave, the fairways were burned to a crisp and Woods memorably used his driver just once in four days.

Drummond will be following the leading groups for the host broadcaster and feels they will struggle to match that scoring on a course that is playing far longer.

He said: "I have vivid memories of The Open at Hoylake eight years ago. It was boiling hot and the course was baked solid.

"I rate Hoylake highly as a course and it is going to be interesting to see how players cope with it this year. But it is nowhere near as fiery and the scoring won't be as low.

"I like to see tough courses that test players, but I also like to see courses where players can get birdies. You have to get the balance right and I think the R&A have."

Drummond believes former US Open champion Graeme McDowell, who won the French Open 10 days ago, will feature prominently on the leaderboard.

He said: "Graeme will have been lifted by his performance in Paris, has won a Major before and has a decent Open record. I think he has a very good chance."