It's golf, but quieter as funereal L.A. serves up a silent movie

Corporate-heavy crowds at L.A. Country Club make for a dead atmosphere in spite of game's biggest stars serving up splendid play 

DEAD ZONE: Dustin Johnson walks to the fourth hole during another quiet second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Friday. Pic: AP Photo/Marcio J. Sanchez

If you give 156 of the best golfers in the world the ball in hand and a sand wedge and no discernable wind or weather impediments, odds are pretty good somebody is going to hit one in the hole.

The short 15th hole at Los Angeles Country Club has been the most exciting spot to park this week at the U.S. Open. With only 22,000 fans on site – many of them stuffy corporate types who don’t seem to want to be bothered with making any noise – what little clamour that’s risen on the North Course has come from vicinity of the wee hole that can range from 80 to 124 yards.