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. Stitched NFL Jerseys . Pedro scored from a pass by Lionel Messi in the 33rd minute and added two more goals in the 47th and 72nd after Valdes saved his second penalty in four days following his stop in Wednesdays 4-0 over Ajax in the Champions League. 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NEW YORK -- There is no doubt Joanna Jedrzejczyk is the greatest female strawweight in Poland -- and the world, for that matter.In an all-Polish championship fight, Jedrzejczyk dominated fellow countrywoman Karolina Kowalkiewicz in a five-round unanimous decision. The title defense, Jedrzejczyks fourth, took place at UFC 205 in Madison Square Garden.All three judges scored it 49-46 for Jedrzejczyk. The bout fell out of her control only once, when she ate a hard Kowalkiewicz right hand and briefly fell down. It was one of the diciest moments of Jedrzejczyks UFC career, but she recovered quickly.I wasnt hurt that badly, Jedrzejczyk said. It was just for a second. I felt great. I felt I controlled the fight. Polish girls are the toughest in the world. Im very happy she and other Polish fighters joined the UFC.Fighting out of American Top Team in Florida for the first time, Jedrzejczyk (13-0) chewed up Kowalkiewiczs lead leg with kicks the entire 25 minutes. Jedrzejczyk also had the quicker draw coming out of the clinch and repeatedly landed short elbows, punches and even a few head kicks in close proximity.Kowalkiewicz (10-1) lookedd for takedowns sporadically throughout the bout, but like so many of Jedrzejczyks former opponents, she found them difficult to convert.dddddddddddd Kowalkiewicz appeared to be happy at times to simply hold Jedrzejczyk up against the fence, to slow her offense.According to FightMetric, Jedrzejczyk outlanded Kowalkiewicz in total strikes 171-50. Jedrzejczyk entered the bout with a career 575-195 strike advantage in title fights.Shes the best in the world, Kowalkiewicz said. It was a very hard fight. Im very proud, because I gave everything I had.Jedrzejczyk entered the fight as ESPN.coms No. 2-ranked pound-for-pound female fighter in the world. Saturdays fight marked the sixth time in UFC history a title fight featured two undefeated fighters. Jedrzejczyk is the second-longest reigning champion in the UFC, behind only mens flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson.You know why I stay champion? Jedrzejczyk said. Im humble every day. Im very focused. I challenge myself every day. Thats why Im still a champion. ' ' '