It’s golf’s time to deliver a good show at the Olympics

Marcus Fraser defied the blustery conditions at the picturesque Olympic Golf Course on the outskirts of Rio as he fired a superb eight-under 63 to open up a three-shot lead over the field.

The 2013 US Open champion watched his tee shot, at the par three fourth hole of his opening round, land in front of the cup and slowly roll right into the hole.

Since the return of golf to the Olympic Games was announced in 2009, Rose has been looking forward to the possibility of representing his country in Rio on the historic occassion.

The only disappointment for da Silva was a few concentration lapses that led to no birdies until No. 9, three bogeys on the back nine and a score that left him nine shots behind at the end of the opening round.

Earlier in the day the first Olympic golf ball struck since 1904 was hit by the lone Brazilian in the men’s field. One shot further adrift was Rose, Belgian Thomas Pieters, German Alex Cejka, Frenchman Gregory Bourdy and Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello. He explained “very rarely are you in one place with so many like-minded people who are there to give 100 per cent and constantly better themselves to try and extract their peak performance on a given week”.

The field of 60 is absent the world’s top four golfers but remains stout with the likes of Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer and the US foursome of Patrick Reed, Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar.

“Teeing off in particular, I think I was the first American to tee off today”, Kuchar said. “We used to cut branches in the shape of a golf club”, said Da Silva, tears dripping off his face. Most weeks there are 156 players and only one victor.