Links courses underpin this year's majors

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - After this year's four majors are consigned to the record books, golf fans will reflect on a most unusual season when three of them were played on British-style links courses -- including two on American soil.

Chambers Bay in Washington State hosted the June 18-21 U.S. Open while Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin will hold the PGA Championship for a third time when it stages the final major of 2015 from Aug. 13-16.

In between those two, the British Open will be played next week at the home of golf in St. Andrews, Scotland.

For some, this is proof positive that links-style golf is becoming much trendier in the United States but golf course…