British Open Odds 2012: The Latest Pairings for Top American Golfers

The countdown to Lytham has already started. For Americans taking aim at the Open Championship, the biggest burning question has to be, "Can they make it four in a row?"

Dating back to the PGA Championship in 2011, the American contingent of golfers on the PGA Tour have captured the last three major championships, a major victory for the U.S., which was battered and beaten by foreign competition for some time.

While the top three golfers in the world still reside outside the United States, there is a strong belief that the best American golfers in the world could make a run at Lytham.

And what happens now that Tiger Woods has been playing as well as any golfer on the tour? Does his aura still strike fear in those he plays with? For that matter, can this year's major winners, Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson, make a charge on a course that has no resemblance to anything these young lions have faced on American soil?

We will all need to get up pretty early to see our favorites shine or fall.

Here is a look at some interesting parings for America's elite. Let's hope they can start fast and build momentum throughout the weekend.

The pairings were found via SportingNews.com.

Adam Scott, a-Alan Dunbar and Matt Kuchar

Since he won the Players Championship in May, Kuchar has been one American golfer who I thought would make more of a splash on the tour.

It did not happen that way.

Kuchar is currently ranked 8th in the world. Playing with Adam Scott could prove to be motivating as Scott could be a factor in this tournament.

Vijay Singh, Nick Watney, Ian Poulter

Nick Watney was another one of those players who snuck into the top-10 rankings last year and hung around without really taking command on tour.

Could a win at Lytham help him regain his form?

He is currently ranked 30th in the world. Playing with Vijay Singh and Ian Poulter is a nice way to start things off.

Darren Clarke, Ernie Els, Zach Johnson

I love this pairing because I think Els could be the sleeper player of this tournament.

But, Zach Johnson could be an American players to make it happen.

Johnson has nine wins in his career, and won last week at the John Deere Classic. He finished in a tie for 16th last season at the Open Championship.

Lee Westwood, Yoshinori Fujimoto, Bubba Watson

Another great pairing.

Lee Westwood is considered among the five best golfers in the world, but has never won a major title.

Bubba Watson won the Masters this year, but has done little else.

It would be nice for Watson, who has taken time off from the tour for family reasons, to come out strong and prove he is among the world's elite and one of the top American's taking aim at the Open Championship.

He tied for 30th in last year's tournament.

Dustin Johnson, Graeme McDowell, Hiroyuki Fujita

Dustin Johnson was second in this tournament last year.

Could he surprise everyone and finish first this year?

While we all watched as Phil Mickelson let the title slip through his fingers last year, Johnson quietly almost pulled it off for the American faithful.

It will be interesting to see if he can do the same thing this year.

Johnson is now ranked 17th in the world.

Tiger Woods, Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia

The gallery will be huge for this pairing.

Woods may not be completely back, but his game is getting better. Can a course like Lytham tame him and his swing?

We will all be wondering which Tiger will show up, and which Tiger will challenge for the Open Championship.

A win would cement his return to golf as the player we once knew.

Ryo Ishikawa, Martin Kaymer, Tom Watson

I added Watson to this list simply because he knows how to play across the pond.

And Watson knows a little something about creating drama. It would be great to see him in contention going into the weekend.

While I do not think that will happen, just seeing Watson charging toward the top of the leaderboard would be worth watching all together.

Playing with Martin Kaymer, one of the premier golfers in the world, will also draw a lot of attention to this pairing.

Jason Dufner, Martin Laird, Kevin Na

Jason Dufner has been one of the better golfers on the tour this year, and one of the surprise American's to break through.

It will interesting to see how his game plays on a course like Lytham.

He finished 4th in the U.S. Open this year, and lost the PGA Championship last season to Keegan Bradley. Major tournaments have seemed to bring out the best in him.

He already has two wins this season, and is currently ranked 7th in the world.

Rory McIlroy, Louis Oosthuizen, Keegan Bradley

Let youth be served.

The PGA Champion and the second best golfer in the world clash in a pairing for the first two days.

It does not get any better than that.

Will Bradley be able to hit it straight and keep it in the large fairways?

Will playing with McIlroy inspire him to make a charge early?

Rickie Fowler, Padraig Harrington, a-Manuel Trappel

Harrington knows a thing or two about major championships.

Fowler wants to win his first.

I like Fowler's game, but I am not sure this is the course for him to capture a major on.

When it comes to winning on foreign soil, Harrington can never be left out of the conversation, or the hunt.

Luke Donald, Phil Mickelson, Geoff Ogilvy

This is the best pairing of the first round.

Can Mickelson right a wrong from last year? Can Donald, the world's top player, finally break through and capture a major title.

And then there is Geoff Ogilvy who is as consistent a player as any on the tour.

I like it, I like it, I like it.

Jim Furyk, Koumei Oda, Fredrik Jacobson

I added this one simply to see if Furyk can regroup after losing the U.S. Open.

Hopefully his strong, even play will be beneficial on a course like this.

It is also my hope he can challenge again in a major.

There is so much to like about Furyk and his game. You just want to see him get another win.