After third round, 10 of the top 16 are from U.S.
There’s been plenty of talk lately about the demise of American golf. But there was little evidence of it in the third round of the British Open, where players from the United States occupy 10 of the top 16 spots on the leaderboard.
Americans of all ages have emerged on Saturday. Twenty-seven-year-old Dustin Johnson matched the best round of the day (68) and trails Northern Irishman Darren Clarke (5-under) by a stroke. Rickie Fowler, 22, also shot 68, and is three strokes back. American Lucas Glover trails by four.
Sixty-one year old Tom Watson tied for the best round (72) among the 35 players who teed off before noon (local time). Among those at even par are Davis Love, 47, Phil Mickelson, 41, and Anthony Kim, 26. At 1-over-par are Tom Lehman, 52, Chad Campbell, 37, Zach Johnson, 35, and Ryan Palmer, 34.
It’s a mystery why Americans play so well at the British Open, where the conditions are unlike those in most parts of the United States. Since 1995, more U.S. players have captured the British Open (11) than any of the other majors, all staged in the states – U.S. Open (nine), PGA (10), and Masters (10).
