Today Could Be A Great Day To Be An American

So, in the real world, today is July 17th, 2011.  But, in the American sports world, today is the fourth round of the 140th Open Championship and the Women's World Cup final.  In either case, both are very well recognized events around the world and will be watched by many, but for Americans, today is a very special day.

Sitting in second place, is this finally DJ's chance to get his name on a major championship trophy?

At roughly 9:10am, Dustin Johnson will tee off to begin his final round at the Open Championship, in second place at -4, only one shot behind leader Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland.  But, even before DJ strikes his first shot, there are four other Americans who are in contention to take home the Claret Jug.  Rickie Fowler is -2 and in the second to last pairing.  Sitting at -1 is 2009 US Open champion Lucas Glover and at even par for the tournament is both Anthony Kim and Phil Mickleson, both playing together in the fourth to last pairing.
It is odd to see this many Americans in the top-10 at a major championship, even more so since this one is being played across the pond on a course and in conditions that are unlike those in America.  There was a lot of talk leading up to the tournament about how the Americans haven't been performing well in majors, having not won one since Mickleson won the Masters last year.  But, the way these five Americans have played thus far is raising the hopes of Americans that this could be the major where the Americans stop their "drought."
Obviously, Johnson is looking to be the best contender in the group, at only one stroke back and in the last group, but in the other two majors where he has played in the last pairing on Sunday, he hasn't faired too well, averaging 77.5 strokes per round, including the infamous 82 at Pebble Beach last year in the US Open.

Only three strokes back, Fowler is a strong contender for this year's Claret Jug

But, don't sleep on the rest of the Americans.  Fowler and Kim are both young, so they'll most likely go out full steam ahead hoping to find success early and put the pressure on Clarke.  Glover is by far one of the best putters on tour and that is a major key in being successful at the Open Championship.  And, well, don't forget about Lefty.  Even though, this isn't his best major, only finishing in the top-10 once in his career, this is a different looking Mickleson, playing with a lot of confidence and holding steady, comfortable with making pars.
Roughly once the Open Championship crowns a winner, we will then be kicking off the Women's World Cup final in Germany, with the United States hosting Japan.
Everyone remembers the slip up in the US's third group match, forcing them to have to play Brazil in the quarterfinals.  Well, in case you were under a rock over the past week, the US really used every minute of that Brazil game to get by in dramatic fashion.  With only 10 women on the field, Abby Wambach scored on a beautiful cross from Megan Rapinoe in the 120+2' to tie the game at 2-2 and sending it into penalty kicks.  Hope Solo stopped Brazil's third shooter and everything after that was history as the US eliminated Brazil.
The semifinals pitted the US against France and the 3-1 score may look a little more dominating than what it actually was.  It took another Wambach header in the 76' to go ahead 2-1 and another goal late in the game put it on ice.

Abby Wambach has scored big goals in the last two games for the US to help them to the WWC Finals

The US has never lost to team Japan, but don't sleep on the Japanese squad.  They upset heavy favorite Germany in extra time in the quarterfinals and then dominated a strong Sweden club that beat the US earlier in the tournament.  This should most certainly be an entertaining match.
As an American today, I am going to sit back and watch as the US is strongly represented in sports across the world and hope that today we, once again, express our dominance.

*Images courtesy of Wikipedia*