Jordan Spieth fashioned a remarkable run last year in the majors, winning the Masters and U.S. Open. Then a spirited final-round charge at the British Open was defused by a double-bogey that paved the way for Zach Johnson to capture the title.

While Spieth and Johnson tallied wins in three of the four major championships in 2015, Americans find themselves trying to protect their turf at the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club from June 16-19.

So far, Australian Jason Day, the world's No. 1-ranked player, is considered the favorite. He is coming off an impressive victory in the Players Championship, and he won last year's PGA Championship.

Day is one of several foreign players who are looking to continue their dominance over American players in the national championship. Foreign-born players have won four of the past six U.S. Opens: Germany's Martin Kaymer, England's Justin Rose, and Northern Ireland natives Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell.

International players have captured eight of the past 12 championships, including a one-stroke victory by Argentina's Angel Cabrera in 2007 at Oakmont. Cabrera, the only golfer from South America to win the U.S. Open, fought back final-round challenges by Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk to win at 5-over par.

The Europeans, in particular, are increasingly confident and comfortable playing the physically demanding and unforgiving U.S. Open courses, where discipline and patience are prerequisites for victory.

Kaymer's win in 2014 shifted the tide. However, when Graeme McDowell held off his nearest pursuers in '05, it was the first win for a European since Tony Jacklin's improbable victory at Hazeltine in 1970.

In that same 35-year span, South Africans Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, Australian David Graham and New Zealand's Michael Campbell were the only international players to win the U.S. Open. Els, who won at Oakmont in 1994, and Goosen won twice to loosen the Americans' stranglehold.

“The game has become even more global,” said Jeff Hall, USGA's managing director of rules and Open Championships. “It's like the NBA. Foreign players are far more familiar with Open courses than ever before.”

Only a handful of America's top players — including Furyk, Johnson and Phil Mickelson — are familiar with Oakmont. Spieth, Dustin Johnson and Ricky Fowler have yet to play a competitive round as professionals at the Henry Fownes-designed course.

“A lot of world's top players haven't played Oakmont,” Hall said. “So I'm not sure if anyone will have a considerable advantage.”

Foreign players have had the upper hand in recent years. If this is a trend instead of an anomaly, then Day, McIlroy and Rose will arrive at Oakmont with immeasurable confidence.

Spieth, though, was looking to get a leg up when he played a practice round at Oakmont earlier last month. He gained a wealth of knowledge during a practice round at Chambers Bay last year before winning his first major.

“There's at least a perceived advantage of having course knowledge,” said Hall, who has helped prepare the U.S. Open since 1991. “They enjoy having the chance to play by themselves to hit several shots familiarize themselves with the greens.”

Ralph N. Paulk is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at rpaulk@tribweb.com or via Twitter @RalphPaulk_Trib.

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