eally any point of talking about it. Nothing is going to change,

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. NFL Store Online . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. 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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. would like to take back his comments after Sundays 24-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, even if he still believes Stevie Wonder can see it when referencing the officials questionable decisions throughout the contest.Beckham was upset about several calls and non-calls -- especially a questionable first-quarter offensive pass interference -- and being told by one official to get out of my face when he asked for an explanation. He even suggested that referee Terry McAulays crew shouldnt be allowed to work another Giants game given their past history.Three days later, as Beckham and the Giants were in the midst of preparing for a Sunday night matchup with the Dallas Cowboys, he was feeling some regret for his comments.Its not really any point of talking about it. Nothing is going to change, Beckham said on Wednesday. Youre sitting there wasting breath.Coach Ben McAdoo agreed with Beckham that there were some questionable calls in the game. McAdoo said he was going to utilize the leagues process where teams can send plays in for clarification purposes. That process would get plenty of use this week, according to McAdoo.ddddddddddddThe Giants coach clearly had his star players back.It doesnt surprise me, Beckham said. Like I said, everybody knows what is going on on the field. Everybody can see it. Stevie Wonder can see it. It is what it is. You cant do anything about it. There is no point.After the loss to the Steelers, the Giants (8-4) are going to need some wins down the stretch against difficult competition to qualify for the playoffs.Beckham doesnt see any benefit harping on the past at this point. His full attention is on the Cowboys and helping the struggling Giants get back on track.I dont even know why ... I shouldnt have even brought it up because its always a lose-lose situation bringing something up, he said. Either youre speaking out on it or now youre trying to defend yourself. Or the other way around, youre complaining.Either way it goes, I shouldve never brought it up. Its irrelevant. Nothing is going to change. No calls are going to be made because of what I say now. You just have to keep playing. ' ' '