The US Golf Association had one job — ONE JOB! — this week: Don’t mess up another US Open at Shinnecock Hills like it did in 2004.

When we watch the very best sportstars in action we are consumed by their ability to produce brilliant moments of magic when it matters most. The higher the stage, the more memorable the feat.

In recent years, the USGA has suffered from an identity complex. It tries to protect par and live up to its reputation as golf’s toughest test.

It’s only small — 1.68 inches in diameter — but it has always been a big issue in golf. Almost from the day that the first Scottish shepherd picked up a stick and whacked a wee stone across a field, there have been disputes about golf balls.

Rickie Fowler made light of the longest course in major championship history to produce a record-equalling start to the US Open on Thursday.

It must be US Open week because the pros took one look at Erin Hills, site of the 117th US Open, and you heard more bellyaching than a hospital emergency room.

Ahead of the US Open at Erin Hills in Wisconsin this week, the United States Golf Association (USGA) is rightfully nervous. 

Chambers Bay, as a venue, was always going to be controversial because the USGA had once again changed the script. They wanted the golf course more links-like, with wider fairways than the norm.

In a week that has seen many of the world’s top golfers decry the condition of Chambers Bay’s greens and take shots at the USGA’s set-up, Shane Lowry avoided the negativity and simply got on with negotiating 72 holes of the most gruelling challenge in golf.

Hometown professional Michael Putnam hit the first shot of the 115th US Open at 7am local time yesterday and five hours and 13 minutes later was sinking the final putt of his first round for an opening level-par 70 at Chambers Bay near Tacoma, Washington.

Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, is halfway to Chambers Bay, but when Jim Furyk spoke on June 7, he sounded as if he were a continent away. That’s because he told of family plans and a commitment to attend a wedding so he wouldn’t be getting a look at the US Open venue for another two weeks.

It has been a long time since I have so eagerly anticipated the start of a major championship — especially the US Open.

Rory McIlroy will begin his bid for a second US Open title this afternoon determined to separate the men from the boys on a course at Chambers Bay he believes will severely punish poor play.

One can only imagine that on occasion a member of the Myopia Hunt Club north of Boston — clear across America by some 3,000 miles from Chambers Bay and the 115th U.S. Open — will come across a golf ball long ago lost by one W.E. Stoddard. 

The linksy feel of Chambers Bay has not endeared championship organisers the USGA to a section of golfers who prefer the manicured parkland target golf they enjoy most weeks on the PGA Tour.

Graeme McDowell can already picture the celebrations if he wins another US Open title to maintain Europe’s recent dominance of the year’s second major championship.

What occupation could be boring when you are averaging just over $41,000 for a single days work?

Martin Kaymer is probably best described as being a quiet and unassuming guy.

Pinehurst is a perfect example of a thinking man’s course.

The selection of Merion Golf Club for the 113th US Open was an expensive decision for the USGA.

Mike Davis is the USGA’s executive director, the man charged with creating the sort of mayhem usually served up to us each year during the US Open championship.

On the surface, you’d have to assume that Mike Davis has never stepped foot in the United Kingdom and had the pleasure of navigating a true links.

USGA executive director Mike Davis today said he is already keen to bring the US Open back to Merion – if the club and local residents were willing to host the tournament again.

Bob Crouch in the title role of Oliver Reed – Wild Thing, a one-man show currently on tour around Ireland.

Adam Scott's dramatic Masters victory helped prevent the Tiger Woods rule debate dominating, but it did bring another issue back to the top of the agenda for golf's governing bodies.

Triple Major winner Pádraig Harrington declared it’s in best interests of younger golfers taking up the sport that golf’s ruling bodies will ban the anchoring of any club against the body.

Any threat of legal action will not stop golf’s governing bodies introducing a ban on anchored putters in 2016.

Three of golf's last five major champions will not be able to continue putting as they do from 2016 under a proposed rule change announced today.

Golf’s governing bodies are today expected to announce a significant rules change regarding putters, specifically whether players will be allowed to anchor the club to their body during the stroke.

Tom Hanks, Jay Leno, Holly Robinson Peete, Loretta Devine and Stevie Wonder were among those who helped celebrate the life of Michael Clarke Duncan during a memorial service.

Rory McIlroy shrugged off the final hole flop that cost him the FedEx St Jude Classic in Memphis and arrived at the US Open insisting he had high hopes of defending his title.

AS the spiritual home of the US Open, the storied Pebble Beach Golf Links seemed perhaps an incongruous place to announce the destination of a new venue on the circuit for the 2017 tournament.

Michael Jackson’s home has been put up for sale.

Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch could become a memorial park for the King of Pop.

US Open officials have played down criticism of their championship set-up by world number one Tiger Woods.

Jack Fleck has three significant memories of his epic 1955 US Open victory over Ben Hogan.

Tiger Woods looks set to take part in June’s US Open after submitting an entry form to the United States Golf Association.

DUSTIN JOHNSON stood onthe 18th tee as powerful wavescrashed along the sea wall along the left side of the famous 18th hole at Pebble Beach. Then he turned to face what he considers the toughest drive on the golf course.

Ricky Barnes further staked his claim to a US Open victory as the third round finally resumed today with the major heading for a first Monday finish since 1983.

HOT, dry Santa Ana winds have fanned the blazes which have ravaged southern California this week.