On the
momentous day when golf was reunited with the Olympic movement after a 112-year
absence, Australian Marcus Fraser emerged from a latter-day band of Olympic
brothers with the lowest score of a thrilling opening day’s play in Rio de
Janeiro.

As a new era
dawned for the sport amid the colossal carnival which represents sport’s greatest
show on earth – putting a huge smile on the face of golf – it was 38-year-old
Fraser from Melbourne who took command by firing an eight-under-par 63 to grab
the first round lead.

The bounce
in Fraser’s step was unmistakeable as he laughed: "We were just saying: ‘I’ve
got the Olympic record’.  That’s pretty
cool, and hopefully that lasts all week."

Fraser
claimed nine birdies over the purpose-built Olympic course at Reserva de
Marapendi to open up a three-stroke lead over Open champion Henrik Stenson and Canadian
Graham DeLaet as the 60 newest and proudest Olympic athletes set the tone for a
potentially epic few days’ play in Rio.

Fittingly,
it was a 44-year-old Brazilian, Adilson da Silva, who was handed the honour of
striking the first Olympic golf shot in the modern era at 7.30am, a time when
most of the swimmers, gymnasts, boxers and beach volleyball heroes were tucked
up in the Olympic Village.

It was also
appropriate that the first three-ball of the Olympic competition contained
DeLaet, whose countryman, George Lyon, was the last person to capture a
precious gold medal in the dying embers of golf’s last flirtation with the
Olympics 112 years prevously.

DeLaet was
aware of the Canadian connection as he flexed his competitive muscles with an
outstanding round of 66, five-under-par and observed: "We said as we were walking
off the first tee that this is pretty cool – the first time in over a hundred
years – and we’re the lead group.  It was
nice."

As the day unfolded,
and more new Olympians were established with every passing tee time, it was
clear that golf was savouring its return to Olympic prominence. The quality of
the play reflected that.

Justin Rose
enjoyed the feeling of recording the first hole in one of the new Olympic era,
as his seven iron from 189 yards disappeared into the hole at the fourth.

"Definitely one of
those icing on the cake moments, when you’re the first to do anything, no one
can ever take that away from you, whatever it is," said Rose, who is tied for
fourth at four under par.  "That was
definitely a cool moment."

DeLaet
admitted he was inspired by meeting the Canadian women who won the first bronze
in Rugby Sevens. He said: "We went to the Canada House on Tuesday night and the Rugby Sevens girls
were with us on the bus going over there, and they had their Bronze Medals when
they got there.

"You know, we got to
hold it.  We took a picture with the
girls and that’s when it really kind of became real to me how amazing it would
be to get that chunk of medal.  Obviously
gold would be incredible, but I think bringing home anything would be really,
really special.  I know that countries
always count medals, so to be able to add to what Canada can rack up would be
pretty awesome."

Stenson, who
won his first major at Royal Troon last month, racked up six birdies and one
bogey in his 66 to join DeLaet in second spot, with Justin Rose of Great
Britain among a group of five players on 67, four under par.

He admitted
that confidence is still high after his Open win and said: "Hopefully confidence
doesn’t wear off that easily, but more than anything, I’m just focusing on my
game and what I need to do, and I feel like I’ve got pretty good control over
most areas of my game, what I need to focus on. It was all about trying to get
some energy back.  Days like these are
tiring, playing in these conditions."

Quotes of the day:

Marcus Fraser 63 (-8): "I think this is
probably one of the best rounds of golf I’ve ever played, given the circumstances,
I was quite edgy and a bit jumpy on the first tee, because it’s such a big
occasion to be here at the Olympics.  To
manage that and go on to play the way I did is really pleasing and a big
confidence boost.

"Tapping in on
the18th, when the three-footer went in, I looked down there, and grabbed my
ball out of the hole. It’s something I’ll never forget, because it’s pretty
special to be able to shoot that score in the first round that golf is back in
the Olympics."

Graham DeLaet 66
(-5): "I was a little bit nervous actually. 
You know, we do this for a living week‑in, week‑out, but there was
something different about that first tee shot today.  It was a different announcement for us, and
it was just a really cool feeling.

"I was playing with a
Brazilian (Adilson da Silva) and that was neat. 
We had a lot of people out there, especially for 7.30 in the morning –
more than I anticipated.  It was a lot of
fun.  We said as we were walking off the
first tee; ‘this is pretty cool, first time in over a hundred years, and we’re
kind of the lead group’.  It was nice.

Gregory Bourdy 67 (-4): "It’s an amazing
experience to be here, playing an Olympic Games, It was really one of my
biggest goals for the last few years to be here and to perform, to play well.  I’m very happy to start my Olympics with a
score of four under. I think it’s already a special atmosphere, because
usually, as I said, we play individually and we are not listening too much to
French cheering ‘Allez les Bleus’!"

Nicolas Colsaerts 68 (-3): It would mean a lot on a personal point of view
and also a national point of view.  It would be a dream come true. 
It’s not the first time golf is here, but it will pretty much feel like it, in
the modern era, anyway.  I feel honored to be here.  I really feel
proud to be on that list of players that have supported the event."

Matt Kuchar 69 (-2): "The nerves don’t get
me in very many places.  Here it was a
little different.  Teeing off in
particular. I think I was the first American to tee off today and to hear my
name announced as an Olympian  (meant)
there were a few more butterflies than I anticipated on the first tee."

Matteo Manassero 69 (-2): "When I hit the first
tee shot, I thought: ‘okay, I’m officially an Olympic athlete’ and that was a
good feeling.  We (have been) trying our
best to get golf to look as great as it is in the biggest sports stage there
is.  It’s a good responsibility, and also
we’re having a lot of fun and it’s great to be here."

Padraig Harrington 70 (-1): "I would say I was
more nervous on the first tee ‑ as much as I would have been when I played
my first major.  It was very
exciting.  I said it to the guys walking
off, now we are Olympians and nobody can take that away from us.  When you think about it, most weeks, you have
156 guys playing, 155 losers. This week, you have 60 guys playing, and we are
all winners."

Adilson da Silva 72 (+1): "Before I teed off,
my head was everywhere….just don’t goof this! 
But just towards the end, I managed to calm myself down and focus to
what I wanted to do.  And I have been
hitting my driver well, so I think I committed to the shot and I hit a nice one
there."