U.S. Open 2017: Live updates, scores, leaderboard, highlights, and more from Erin Hills

The 117th U.S. Open is upon us, and this year the prestigious event makes its Wisconsin debut. Erin Hills, a course that served as a cow pasture just 13 years prior, is the 2017 host of one of the sport’s four major tournaments.

The Open’s charm lies in its accessibility. Anyone, from professionals to amateurs to weekend duffers with an official USGA handicap can try their hand at qualifying through regional tournaments. This year, 13 amateurs will attempt to boost their careers by lasting all the way to Sunday’s final round.

That will be easier said than done. Erin Hills will be one of the longest courses in Open history, ending with a monstrous 675-yard 18th hole. While big drives off the tee will be important, accuracy counts more than ever. Just feet from the edge of the fairway is an unforgiving, deep rough, where knee-high fescue becomes a black hole for balls and par opportunities.

The tall grass was frustrating enough to get pros Kevin Na and Wesley Bryan to take to social media and voice their complaints.

Rory McIlroy wasn’t impressed with their gripes, suggesting golfers complaining about the fescue “have no chance” to win the tournament.

Na and Bryan are just two members of a 156-man field loaded with talent. Each of the World Golf Rankings’ top 10 players are present, including former champions Dustin Johnson, Martin Kaymer, McIlroy, and Jordan Spieth. Sergio Garcia, fresh off his breakthrough performance at April’s Masters, will try to use Erin Hills as his springboard to a No. 1 ranking. Other titans like Henrik Stenson, Rickie Fowler, and Hideki Matsuyama will tee off Thursday as well.

The most notable name not to make it to Wisconsin? Five-time major champ Phil Mickelson. The left-handed star skipped this year’s opportunity to finally win the Open — he’s come in second a record six times — in order to attend his daughter’s high school graduation.

A full field list can be found here.

Fowler tamed the course early, blasting out to the top of the leaderboard with a -7 round to start his tournament. That left a handful of wily veterans in pursuit. Ernie Els, Lee Westwood, and Angel Cabrera — a combine 138 years between them -- all took early turns in the top 10 as play wore on.

A pair of triple bogeys threaten to end Jason Day’s Open early. He was +7 through 12 holes, a shocking start from the world’s No. 3 golfer. Other big names who failed to find the happy side of par include Dustin Johnson (+3), Hideki Matsuyama (+2), and Adam Scott (+4 through 13 holes).

However, the real excitement was in the air. A blimp covering the event caught fire and crashed late on Thursday morning. Video seemed to confirm crew members parachuted from the craft, and a USGA statement reported that while the blimp’s pilot was injured, first responders were on the scene.