U.S. Open: will Americans continue domination of event?

American players have won five straight in the U.S. Open and the domination extends even further back. Can the streak continue this week?

The U.S. Open is America’s national championship of professional golf. And that not only means it is played in the USA and hosted by the United States Golf Association, it also means that Americans have traditionally dominated the championship.

That has held true throughout time and it still holds true today. How dominant have the Americans been in the event? The numbers tell the story.

More from Golf News

Americans have won the last five U.S. Opens. That run started with Jordan Spieth in 2015, followed by this week’s favorite, Dustin Johnson, who won in 2016. Brooks Koepka won in 2017 and again in 2018, becoming the first player to repeat as U.S. Open champion since Curtis Strange, another American, did so in 1988 and 1989.

Last year, Koepka came up three shots short of a three-peat in the event. It was another long-hitting American, Gary Woodland, who became a first-time major champion.

In addition to winning five in a row, Americans have also won six of the last eight U.S. Opens. Webb Simpson, another player who is among the favorites this week, won in 2012.

Americans have won 27 of the last 38 U.S. Opens. That includes a stretch from 1982 to 1993 where American players won every title. That list includes Tom Watson (1982), Larry Nelson (1983), Fuzzy Zoeller (1984), Andy North (1985), Raymond Floyd (1986), Scott Simpson (1987), Strange (1988 and 1989), Hale Irwin (1990), Payne Stewart (1991), Tom Kite (1992) and Lee Janzen (1993).

This week at Winged Foot, several Americans are among the favorites to make it six in a row. Including DJ and Simpson, Justin Thomas figures to be one of the favorites, along with Xander Schauffele, who will be trying to win his first major.

PGA Championship winner Collin Morikawa also figures to have a chance, while Bryson DeChambeau, Tony Finau and Daniel Berger are also among those who the media sees as having a chance.

Looking for an American long shot? Harris English has been playing fairly well and Brendon Todd is a player who can keep the ball in the fairway and can hole putts, both of which bode well at U.S. Opens.

Next. U.S. Open: Top 10 power rankings at Winged Foot. dark

Or maybe another American will win his first major. Someone like Rickie Fowler or Patrick Cantlay.

The main contenders among non-Americans will be Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama and Tommy Fleetwood. But look for another American to win this week, extending the streak to six in a row and 28 of 39.

Home/Golf News