ROYAL Troon could only become more American if they were to start handing out guns on the first tee and installing fast food outlets next to every bunker. With the man who could be their next President already having laid claim to his own patch of land a few miles down the coast at Turnberry, those who would be his subjects – perish the thought - continue to assert their dominance whenever the Open championship returns to this particular corner of Ayrshire. It is only a matter of time before the local council has the Stars and Stripes fluttering over the nearby town hall.

There is no rational explanation for why Americans tend to do well in Troon but the inescapable fact is that time after time they do. The last six Open championships here have all been won by those from the United States, a run that dates back to Arnold Palmer’s victory in 1962. If there is anything to connect The King with Tom Weiskopf, Tom Watson, Mark Calcavecchia, Justin Leonard and Todd Hamilton – who all followed him by winning at Troon in the subsequent years and decades – then it is far from blindingly obvious. Even those on the list can think of no real reason for theirs and their countrymen’s ongoing success. And yet it endures.

Two days into the Open’s return to Troon after a 12-year absence and the Americans continue to dominate at the top end of the leaderboard. And not just the names many people expected. While pre-tournament favourites such as Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth have struggled, others have been inspired by the links effect. Leading the way is Phil Mickelson, the 2013 champion, closely followed by a raft of his countrymen, including last year’s winner Zach Johnson looking for an unlikely repeat.

Others will also fancy their chances over the weekend such as Keegan Bradley, the 2011 USPGA winner, Tony Finau, Bill Haas, Kevin Na and Matt Kuchar. Although there was some European resistance from the likes of Henrik Stenson, Soren Kjeldsen, Andrew “Beef” Johnston, and Sergio Garcia, it must have sent a slight shiver up the spine of Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke to see so many American golfers in such a rich vein of form ahead of the teams’ meeting at Hazeltine in Minnesota later this year.

Events over the weekend will decide if Troon crowns a seventh successive American champion come Sunday night but those in contention were not shy in articulating their chances, in that self-confident bullish way that many of them do.

“I feel as though when I go to a major I have a little edge on some of the guys, so I love it,” said Bradley. “I love a bigger field tournament. I just feel like there's guys that can handle it and guys that succeed. I feel more comfortable in the bigger atmosphere. I love playing with big groups. It's just more fun for me. I feel really solid. I've had a few moments where I felt really nervous out there and hit really quality shots, which kind of hasn't been the case lately. So that's a really good sign. I always seem to be able to do that.”

Johnson took confidence from the fact he is yet to peak this week. ”There are certainly some positives,” he said. “I feel like the best thing going for me right now is I haven't played my best yet and I can still go out and do that this weekend.”

Some, like Spieth, have been chastened by the experience of playing in horrendous weather conditions but remain theoretically in contention to keep the American streak going after narrowly sneaking under the cut line.

“It's worth setting a goal for the weekend,” he said. “I think four-under might be in the top 10 still. So I’ll set a goal to try and shoot maybe eight-under over the next two days and see where that falls. I'll have to look at the conditions to make a somewhat, lofty, realistic goal. But it's certainly worth shooting after and trying to gain some momentum. You wish this was just a round with your buddies where you go into the clubhouse and have one or seven pints afterwards.”