Olympic golf

No; this isn't comment on the decision to make golf a competitive sport at the 2016 Rio Olympics, although it will be a great spectacle. Rather, it's a reference to the 2012 US Open, which is underway at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. The official US Open website describes the venue thus:

The Olympic Club, San Francisco

The Olympic Club was established in 1860 and enjoys the distinction of being America's oldest athletic club, with some 5,000 members who compete in 19 sports out of its downtown San Francisco clubhouse. Its 45 holes of golf include the Lake Course, which was originally designed in 1924 by Willie Watson and Sam Whiting, and redesigned by Whiting in 1927 after it suffered storm damage. The Lake Course remains true to the 1927 design, with minimal renovations in the intervening years, save for the recent creation of a new eighth hole, a 200-yard par 3. The course is hosting its fifth U.S. Open and will surely challenge players with its narrow, tree-lined fairways and small, well-bunkered greens.

The US Open last made the Olympic Club its home in 1998, when Lee Janzen took a one-shot victory over the late Payne Stewart. Stewart led for most of the tournament, but faltered just a little on the last day to lose to his great friend. History will forever record that Payne Stewart rebounded to win the 1999 US Open, then just a few months later was killed in a bizarre aircraft accident.

Golf's second major of the year does not attract the best field of the season; the US Golf Association's qualifying system takes care of that. A number of the world's best players and past winners are exempt, but most of the 7000 or so golfers who try for a spot at the Open have to play their way through local and sectional qualifiers. Section qualifiers were held across the US last week, and are often described as golf's longest day; 36 holes of golf on a hot summer's day, with one a few qualifying spots up for grabs. A qualifying tournament is also held in the UK for European Tour players, and it was via that route which Michael Campbell emerged to win at Pinehurst #2 in 2005.

The USGA had trademarked the expression "Golf's toughest test", but it is a phrase which well describes the US Open. The course set-up is brutal; narrow fairways, deep rough and fast greens mean that accuracy is of far more importance than distance, and wayward shots are punished. 

As we type this, just 16 of the 78 morning players are at even par or better. Ominously, a certain T. Woods is at -1 after 14 holes, just two shots behind the leader, and in a tie for fourth. It's often said that you can't win a tournament in the first round, but you can certainly lose it; Tiger Woods seems to have taken heed of that.

At the other end of the leaderboard, there are some big numbers being posted. Masters winner Bubba Watson (playing with Woods) is seven over after 14. Andy Zhang, at just 14 the youngest player ever to compete at the US Open had a horror start; triple bogey-double bogey, and is eight over after 11. And trailing the field, US golfer Steve Marino is at 12 over through 15.

There will be some wonderful golf over the next four mornings (NZ time). And whoever walks off the 18th green at Olympic on Monday morning (NZ time) will be a very worthy winner; an Olympic Open Champion. 

UPDATE: While we dashed off to shower, Woods birdied 15, and is at 2-under, just one shot out of the lead.