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None in the crowd of roughly 10,000 suspected that when Bobby Locke of South Africa tapped in for a two-shot victory and a record score in the British Open, he would be the last player from outside the United States to hoist the claret jug at Royal Troon.That was in 1950.Since then, there have been six Opens on the Ayrshire links in Scotland, and six American winners.Surprising?It was to Phil Mickelson, who cupped his hand under his chin and stared in deep thought as he went down the list of champions at Royal Troon -- Arnold Palmer and Tom Weiskopf, Tom Watson and Mark Calcavecchia, Justin Leonard and Todd Hamilton. The list complete, Mickelson came to a predictable conclusion.I would be shocked if anyone other than an American won this year, Lefty said with a laugh. Theres something to those trends.Really, its nothing more than a coincidence. The club motto at Royal Troon translates to as much by skill as by strength, which goes against the American style of power golf that is all about hitting it high and far and firing at flags.I wouldnt say its more Americanized. Birkdale has probably a little of that, Jim Furyk said. We had a hell of a run there starting in the mid-90s (10 victories by Americans in 12 years). I think its just one of those things that happens.Odds are it can happen again.Royal Troon has received enough rain this spring -- with more in the forecast during the Open -- that it likely will play substantially softer, meaning more targets and less bounces that define the subtlety of links golf.As for the players?Dustin Johnson and a dozen other Americans are among the top 25 in the world. The attention has shifted away from Jordan Spieth, who a year ago came within one shot of a playoff in his quest for the Grand Slam, to the 32-year-old Johnson, who is just now starting to deliver on his awesome potential.Johnson broke through for his first major after four close calls, beating Oakmont and the USGA to win the U.S. Open by three shots. After a week off to celebrate, he chased down world No. 1 Jason Day on the back nine at Firestone to win a World Golf Championship. Johnson was the 36-hole leader at St. Andrews a year ago. He contended in the final round at Royal St. Georges in 2011 until a 2-iron that sailed out-of-bounds. He can handle links golf.This will be his first time seeing Royal Troon, and he was intrigued about the gentle start -- three par 4s under 400 yards -- and the tough finish.Troon is a tale of two nines. The wind is helping on the shorter outward nine holes. This is where players score, and it prompted Colin Montgomerie to say that if youre not under par after nine holes at Troon, you may as well go to the clubhouse at Prestwick and have lunch. Prestwick, the first home of the British Open, is next to Troon.The inward nine turns back into the wind and is relentless with tight fairways and prickly gorse bushes.Probably the toughest finishing stretch, Paul Casey of England said. Carnoustie is tough, I think Troon is a better set of finishing holes.Such is the stage for the 145th Open Championship, where the list of favorites keeps getting longer.Spieth started the year at No. 1, has won twice and nearly won the Masters, and already is down to No. 3. Day remains No. 1 after the PGA champion added The Players Championship, a World Golf Championship and the Arnold Palmer Invitational to his trophy collection.Of those 13 Americans in the top 25, seven have yet to win a major, which has a small piece historical relevance at Troon. Four of the last Open champions had never won a major until their names were on the claret jug (and they never won another).Branden Grace of South Africa was stunned to learn it had been 66 years since someone outside the United States had won the claret jug at Royal Troon.Not to be funny, but hopefully an international player can win it this year, he said.Then he was told the last Royal Troon champion was a fellow South African.Now theres some motivation, Grace said. Might have to do some history searching myself.Heres one clue: Locke was a great putter.Thats what had been holding back Johnson, a good putter who just had not seen many disappear into the cup until recently. Thats what makes Spieth and Day so dangerous. And that could decide the fortunes of Rory McIlroy, who won the claret jug at Royal Liverpool in 2014 and missed out on his title defense at St. Andrews after injuring his ankle playing soccer.But it starts with Johnson, who will try to become only the seventh player in the last century to the U.S. Open and British Open in the same summer.Ive thought for a couple years ... thats hes the most talented player there is in golf, former Open champion David Duval said. He has that weapon that is just basically unbeatable -- driving the golf ball -- and as hes improved his wedges ... that almost becomes unbeatable.And at Royal Troon, it doesnt hurt that hes an American.I think theres a good chance, Casey said, that American streak continues. Milwaukee Bucks Shirts . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies. Milwaukee Bucks Gear . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. https://www.cheapbucksonline.com/ . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. Bucks Jerseys China . Michell Burger, a woman who lives on an estate next to Pistorius gated community, said she and her husband were awoken by the screams in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 14 last year, when Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp by shooting four times through a door in his bathroom. Milwaukee Bucks Pro Shop . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda.Barrie McDermott and Terry OConnor discuss Leeds struggles, overseas signings and preview round 14 of Super League in this weeks Rugby League Podcast. Barrie v Terry Listen to this weeks Rugby League Podcast The Rhinos poor form continued last week as they were knocked out of the Challenge Cup by Huddersfield.Skipper Danny McGuire is set to return for their home clash with Castleford on Thursday and says their cup exit could prove a blessing in disguise. Barrie talks about his former sides season to forget and whether they can turn it around. While Leeds sit at the foot of the Super League table, Hull FC are competing for top spot. After some tough times in charge of the Airlie Birds, Lee Radford has his sights set on a Grand Final appearance. Barrie McDermott has a look at this weekends games in Super League Barrie praises Radford for allowing Frank Pritchard and Sika Manu to travel to Australia to skipper Samoa and Tonga respectively, and says its against the spirit of the game that Pritchard has been slapped with a one-match ban.ddddddddddddWith Jamie Lyon considering a Super League swansong and Rangi Chase causing further controversy, our pundits debate the quality of overseas imports.Its an action-packed weekend of Super League action, with three games live on Sky Sports, and Baz and Tez have their usual friendly debate on who they think will triumph. Super League Round 14 preview - Barrie v Terry Also See: Sky Live: Warrington v Leeds Sky Live: Wigan v Hull FC Clarke: Our game is growing Follow @SkySportsRL ' ' '