SAN FRANCISCO – If you like a punch in the face with your morning coffee, you would love the first hole at The Olympic Club.
Its living up to its head-rattling reputation at the U.S. Open.
Rickie Fowler, who got in early contention in the first round, opened Fridaywith a triple bogey at No. 1. Matt Kuchar, also in early contention,opened with a double bogey there in the second round.
The first hole is a 520-yard par 4. Its a par 5 for the membership here, and it plays to almost exactly the same yardage as the 17th, a par 5. No. 1 ranked as the most difficult hole on the course in the first round with a 4.58 scoring average.
The 9th hole, where half the field is starting in the first two rounds, is no piece of cake. It ranked as the hardest fairway to hit in the first round. Just one in four players hit the fairway.
I think the ninth hole was a tougher starting hole than the first, David Toms said.
