Steve Webster's great American adventure proved a familiar story with a round full of agony and ecstasy in the USPGA last night.
Doubtless the Athertsone player will be happy carding a two-over-par 72 on his debut in an American major but, had he capitalised on four birdies in his opening round, he might be teeing off today considerably happier.
Webster, who won his first European Tour title at the Italian Open this summer, gave five shots back to Baltusrol, the course which caused Tiger Woods and Colin Montgomerie to toil.
Webster picked up shots at the 430-yard par four 14th (his fifth), the 230-yard parthree 16th and the formidable 650-yard, par-five 17th. This after marking his card for bogey on three of his first four holes. He dropped a further three shots but managed another birdie on the parthree fourth, his 13th.
Montgomerie and Woods - still on a high after finishing first and second in the Open last month - came crashing back down to earth yesterday.
Montgomerie's euphoria dissolved in a sea of bogeys and double bogeys as he began the championship at hot and humid Baltusrol with a seven-over-par 77.
Woods was only two shots better than that and, in relation to par, that represented his worst-ever start to a major as a professional.
The world No 1 has not yet given up hope of becoming the first player in golf history to win three majors in a season twice - and it ought to be remembered that he came from seven behind at the Masters in April after opening there with a 74.
But he was already eight behind when he signed his card, both 2003 Open champion Ben Curtis and South African Trevor Immelman coming in with 67s.
Out on the course England's Greg Owen, who was controversially denied a place in the Open, turned in 33 to join them, while Scottish Open champion Tim Clark was also three under.
Montgomerie blamed a lack of rhythm, rather than the finger injury which forced him to pull out of last week's Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles after just 13 holes.
"I didn't have any timing from the word 'go'," said the Scot. "You can't hit it the right distance if you are not timing it.
"But a 67 tomorrow and I can get back into things. I normally have good rhythm, but never mind. I've not played much since the Open - only a few competitive holes - and it's one of those things.
"If it does not work tomorrow' I'll try again next week. That's the beauty of this game."
The next major, however, is next April - and he will be approaching 43 by then.
Woods was succinct when he said: "I just didn't start off very well and it was a long day.
"All day I was grinding, but I stayed as patient as possible and I have three more days to get back into it. I'll go home, relax and put this day behind me."
England's Luke Donald shared the lead early on at three under, but in the end had to settle for a 69 - the same as Ian Poulter, who produced a sparkling finish of four birdies in five holes to go with his sparkling Union Jack trouser leg.
When he stood one under after five holes, all seemed to be well for Montgomerie, but he then dropped nine strokes in the next 10 holes.
First he went from rough to sand on the 430-yard 15th for a bogey five, then he chipped over the green at the short 16th and, from the other side, stubbed his next attempt and moved the ball less than two feet.
That led to a double- bogey five, but worst of all was the seven he ran up on the 554-yard 18th - arguably the easiest hole on the demanding New Jersey lay-out.
A carved drive into sand was followed by a pulled second which failed to make the carry over the water hazard which runs across the fairway.
Montgomerie's fourth shot then went over the green, his chip was 12 feet short and another missed putt produced a back nine of 40, four over par.
And that was followed by bogeys at the first, third, fourth and sixth before a birdie at the eighth repaired at least some of the damage done.
After finding rough and three-putting the tenth for a bogey five, Woods dropped another shot on the 14th after going into sand, then had a real adventure at the long 18th.
His hooked drive narrowly avoided the ditch and when he arrived at it, he looked at the lie and, thinking somebody may have trodden on the ball, asked if he might be entitled to a free drop.
He called for a second opinion when one referee turned him down, but there was no change and after taking a penalty drop, he could not make the green and played a poor chip. A bogey six resulted.
After bogeying the short fourth like Montgomerie, he ran up a double-bogey six at the seventh, but then hit straight back with a birdie.
Poulter holed from 12 feet at the 14th, hit a three-iron to five feet on the 16th and then birdied the two closing par fives.
Darren Clarke had a 73 and Padraig Harrington, who missed the Open after the death of his father, a 76, while debutants Nick Dougherty and Stephen Dodd scored 73 and 74 respectively.
World No 2 Vijay Singh began as Woods finished, but began with a bogey and remained one-over after six.
Lee Westwood was level par after five, Paul Casey and Paul McGinley one-over after nine and seven and Brian Davis three-over after 10.
