Gusting winds made for tough playing conditions in the first round but he overcame those conditions to put himself in gold medal position after day one at eight-under for the Olympic tournament.
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Henrik Stenson of Sweden leads the way among an global field that includes the likes of world number 11 Sergio Garcia (Spain) and Martin Kaymer (Germany).
They trailer overnight leader Marcus Fraser of Australia whose round of 63 leave him on -8, three shots clear of Canada’s Graham Delaet and Swede Henrik Stenson.
The first Olympic golf competition in more than a century is at a course built on a 1,600-acre site that was previously unkempt and home to a variety of rare animals and plants.
“I couldn’t say I wasn’t nervous, because I was nervous”, da Silva said. “So hopefully, that lasts all week”.
Justin Rose made what is believed to be the first hole-in-one.
The grandstand was filled with more golf officials than fans. “Just before the tee off my head was everywhere, don’t goof this, don’t make a scene”. His drive went straight down the middle, and golf was on its way. “Or the beginning of a new one”. Earlier past year, it was believed that Tiger Woods was battling those demons as he inexplicably couldn’t hit a chip shot. And he knows his history.
DeLaet admitted he was inspired by meeting the Canadian women who won the first bronze in Rugby Sevens.
Stenson, who won the Open Championship in Scotland last month, was swarmed by blue and yellow clad Swedish supporters throughout his round. Yeah there was a feeling of trepidation, a feeling of joy after hitting the first shot.
The biggest surprise came from the Americans. Matt Kuchar was the only one of the four Americans to finish in red numbers with a 2-under 69. For Fowler, a four-putt on the first hole didn’t help.
Fraser needed just 21 putts and managed to get a good bit of his round completed before gusty winds made for some hard scoring. We said as we were walking off the first tee, this is pretty cool, first time in over a hundred years, and we’re kind of the lead group. This is not a insane good field, mind you. No country, aside from the US, has more than two players in the field. With three rounds to go, any American can get hot and move up the leaderboard, but for now, the United States of America may not add to its medal count.
“We see now in the discussion in the golf community, there are obviously very different reasons for not going to Rio, not related to Zika”, Bach said.
“It was just off and didn’t feel quite right. To hear my name announced as an Olympian and to go tee off, there were a few more butterflies than I anticipated”. And then he opened with a bogey.
Now it’s a matter of getting down to business after an emotional day resulted in a memorable round. He mentioned how “everyone here is loving it“, and that “This is an experience that will never be taken away from us, a fantastic experience“.
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Golf is one of the many events that has been a bit of a letdown. “The great thing about golf right now if from 60 players, probably 40 or 45 can win”.
