American dominance of British Open: Sam Burns, Bryson DeChambeau could extend U.S. winning streak at golf major

Hosted in the United Kingdom every year, a less comfortable environment at the British Open can sometimes lead to struggles for star American golfers.

The last major of the year provides more of a unique challenge than the other three — while The Masters are always at Augusta National, the PGA Championship is typically held in the eastern part of the country and the U.S. Open is also on American soil, the British Open requires some more significant travel.

Despite an assumption that American players may not fare as well at the British Open, however, the opposite has been true in recent years. Heading into Sunday, players like Sam Burns, Bryson DeChambeau and Ryan Gerard have a chance to continue an intriguing trend.

Here's a look at how American players have been dominating the British Open recently.

MORE: Live updates from the 2026 British Open

Last five British Open champions

Here's a look at the last five British Open victors:

Of those five players to win the British Open since the 2020 tournament was canceled due to COVID-19, four are American-born. The exception was Cameron Smith in 2022 — the LIV star, who is from Australia, won with a score of -20.

MORE: Everything to know about Bryson DeChambeau's penalty controversy 

Americans in position to challenge for 2026 British Open

Now, with three rounds over at the 2026 British Open, there remains a strong possibility that an American golfer wins the major.

The favorite to do so is Burns, who heads into Sunday with a two-stroke lead at -10 overall. Burns, 29, is from Louisiana and has been on an upward trajectory in the past year — he recorded his first top-10 major finish at the 2024 U.S. Open and has since finished in the top 10 at the 2025 U.S. Open, the 2026 Masters and the 2026 U.S. Open, which was a second-place finish.

Behind Burns on the 2026 leaderboard so far is Australia's Ryan Fox, who became the third player this year to tie the major record with a single-round score of 62. Fox is tied with South Korea's Si Woo Kim at -8.

Other American contenders for the 2026 Open Championship are Ryan Gerard (-7), Jackson Suber (-6) and Bryson DeChambeau (-6), who has overcome a two-stroke penalty from Friday's controversy.

If DeChambeau is able to come all the way back from that two-stroke deficit, he would be winning his third major, previously winning the U.S. Open twice.

MORE: Rory McIlroy calls out Bryson DeChambeau over penalty controversy

Sam Burns, Bryson DeChambeau 2026 U.S Open highlights

Burns shot a 65 on Saturday, the second-best mark of the round behind Fox's historic 62. 

Heading into Sunday, Burns has recorded 15 birdies over three rounds.

Sam Burns moves to the top of the leaderboard alongside Lucas Herbert, thanks to this birdie on 14. pic.twitter.com/YTg6uuUllH

DeChambeau, meanwhile, has had his tournament defined by the penalty controversy — but otherwise, he's been outstanding.

He had three birdies on Saturday, pushing his total so far to 14. One of DeChambeau's more impressive shots at the British Open came from one knee with his ball in a pot bunker. 

How many Americans have won the British Open?

Per the British Open, a total of 34 different players from the United States have won the tournament at least once.

The first American to win the major was Jock Hutchison in 1921, and the latest was Scheffler in 2025.

2026 British Open leaderboard