Wesley Bryan names the American star who he thinks may do something ‘really special’ at The Open Championship this year

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While it is definitely the case that some PGA Tour players struggle to get to grips with links golf, it cannot be ignored that three of the last four Open champions have been American.

In fact, five of the last nine winners of The Open Championship have come from the United States of America, with Zach Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa, Brian Harman, and Xander Schauffele all lifting the Claret Jug in the last decade.

Elsewhere, Chris Gotterup went into the final round of the Genesis Scottish Open tied for the lead with Rory McIlroy. The likes of Wyndham Clark, Jake Knapp, Harris English, and Andrew Novak were all inside the top 10 at the Renaissance Club with 18 holes to play.

Scottie Scheffler, meanwhile, started Sunday five shots off the lead. So it would arguably be no surprise to see a PGA Tour stalwart triumph next week at Royal Portrush.

PGA Tour star tipped to do something ‘special’ at The Open Championship

It was remarkable how comfortable Schauffele looked on Sunday at Royal Troon 12 months ago, while Harman’s victory one year earlier was incredibly emphatic.

But it is another of their countrymen who has been tipped to potentially become a two-time Open champion next week at Royal Portrush.

Speaking on The R&A YouTube channel after playing the course, Wesley Bryan suggested who his number one tip would be outside of Scheffler.

“If we’re talking ball-strikers, there’s a brand new player-caddie duo that I’m pretty excited to see how it plays out with Billy Foster being on the bag for Collin Morikawa. Fantastic golf course for Collin out here, got to be able to work it both ways, and he’s had success on the links. Give me Collin Morikawa and Billy Foster to ignite something really special,” he said.

“All of us would have picked Scottie Scheffler, we’re going for the second choice. Scottie’s the obvious one,” he went on to add.

Wesley Bryan issues his verdict after playing Royal Portrush ahead of The Open

This year will mark only the third time that Royal Portrush has hosted The Open Championship. Max Faulkner won the event back in 1951, while Shane Lowry triumphed 68 years later.

There appears to be real excitement, particularly with Rory McIlroy having unfinished business on the course. The 36-year-old missed the cut six years ago after a nightmare first round. But he returns as a Career Grand Slam winner.

The course is definitely going to play its part as a main character. Speaking in the same video, both Grant Horvat and Bryan were effusive in their praise of the setting.

“I would say for our major cut series, which we just filmed, this is all our number one favourite golf course,” Horvat said.

“Walking off of it, I don’t understand how you can play this place and not have it somewhere on your Mount Rushmore of golf courses,” Bryan added.