Rickie Fowler and Team USA open Olympics golf event with an ugly round 1

Before the Olympic golf competition kicked off on Thursday, Rickie Fowler and Bubba Watson were listed by the oddsmakers (both 12/1, according to Golfodds.com) to finish just shy of winning a golf medal in Rio. The other two members of four-man USA group, Matt Kuchar and Patrick Reed, were just behind their mates at 15/1. No other country has more than two players in the 60-man field this week.

Then the games began, and, well, things did not go so well for Rickie, particularly. Fowler, who could not have been more excited to represent the red, white and blue in golf’s return to the summer games after a 112-year absence, got off to a rally-killing, four-putt triple-bogey 7 on the first hole.

Fowler has been all over Rio for the past week or so, soaking up the ambiance of the summer games and its world-class athletes and chiding the notorious no-shows for skipping what Martin Kaymer called “the greatest week of my career.” Then he ended up being all over Olympic Golf Course on Thursday. After getting off to such an awful start, there was only one way for Fowler to go, and he did end on a high note, going birdie-par on the last two holes.

In a tie for 56th at 4-over, though, Fowler’s chances for a medal of any type would appear to be done.

And that’s truly a shame for Rickie, who would surely earn the gold for Olympic spirit among those in the 60-player field.

While others conquered Gil Hanse’s beautifully designed track — most notably Australia’s Marcus Fraser, whose 8-under 63 leads the way by three shots — Fowler struggled to a 75. That put him just two shots up from last place. His Team USA counterparts fared better, with Kuchar, at T11 after carding a 69, looking like the United States’ best shot to take home a medal. Ryder Cup hero Reed had an up-and-down day, coming in at 72.

Watson, with no Ted Scott on the bag this week, overcame a double-bogey 7 on the 10th hole that threatened to derail his week. Two birdies on his final four holes — including one on the par-5 18th — gave Watson a 73.

You know what they say -- there’s lots of golf left to go. But it would appear Bubba need not worry about laying up on 18 on Sunday to safeguard a bronze medal.

Despite sitting at T42, Watson, who missed a bunch of putts early on, had little self-criticism after round one.

“Pulled out 3-wood, trying to draw it back against the wind,” the two-time Masters champion said about what led to that double. “Either drew it too much but I hit it great and it went to the strip of sand in between holes there. And it went in a footprint. Cost me, made me a quick seven.”

Even with a bunch of missed putts early on, Watson would take just a single mulligan.

“There’s only one shot I want to re‑do,” he said. “I can take some missed putts that I lipped‑out that I hit great. I hit a lot of great shots out there. Just the score is not what I wanted. But I’ve got three more days to challenge and keep enjoying my adventure this week.”

While his game may not have been up to snuff, Watson was right there with Fowler in his appreciation for all things #RioOlympics2016.

No doubt, some will snarkily suggest that Bubba might want to focus more on his game than on everything else that could serve as a distraction, but hey, depending on how things go, this could truly be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for golfers in the Olympics.