On the eve of the 98th U.S. Open, Justin Leonard wondered if the USGA's answer to equipment concerns would be to make players carry only nine clubs and walk barefoot.
That wasn't the case today at The Olympic Club, when the Open began in chilly, overcast conditions with light fog rolling over the hills in the distance.Steve Pate may have set the tone for the day - the first ball struck in the championship drifted right and disappeared into the rough as the gallery groaned.
Even with 14 clubs in the bag, Leonard and the rest of the field would do well to concentrate on only a few of them.
A 3-wood or low iron will come in handy off the tee, anything to keep the ball out of the 5-inch rough that frames the tight fairways.
The wedge is a must, if only to get the ball back into play.
"You just stick the long wedge behind it and hit it as hard as you can," said England's Lee Westwood.