Mother Nature an early leader at Troon

Just 17 of 156 players end opening round in the red

- JOE CALLAGHAN

Mackenzie Hughes lines up a putt on the 13th green during his opening round at Royal Troon on Thursday.

Call it incalculatable? That's certainly what Bryson DeChambeau would call it.

Incalculatable, of course, is not a word but maybe there is no word for the sensation that some of golf's leading men felt as they were tamed by Royal Troon.

Back in its spiritual home, this sport which presently finds itself in all sorts of existential fights was reminded of one of its oldest and most satisfying truths: Mother Nature will look at all of your technological advancements, your great leaps, and laugh at them in the face.

All around this bewitching links course Thursday there were looks on faces that we aren't used to seeing, Looks that said they weren't used to what they were seeing.

With squalls swirling, a ball's flight would be hijacked and, even if it did land anywhere close to its target, Royal Troon's greens felt about as readable as a waterbed, as fast as one too. Bryson, Rory, Rickie, Tommy, Tiger, Sahith, Wyndham. Firstname men, all flummoxed. Chastened too, perhaps even humbled? Well, not Bryson.

After signing for a five-over-par 76, DeChambeau was asked by a reporter about "things that are maybe incalculable?" "Incalculatable!" the US. Open champion corrected, incorrectly.

That kinda guy but also that kinda day.