BY JOHN HUGGAN at BALTUSROL

AUSTRALIANS make up less than six percent of the field in the 98th USPGA Championship at Baltusrol – nine of 156 to be exact. Expectations are high for at least two of the nine: World No.1 and defending champion Jason Day, and former Masters winner Adam Scott. But for at least one other, making the cut would represent something of a success on a par-70 course measuring 7,428-yards.

“This is a course that suits anyone who hits it a long way off the tee and doesn’t suit anyone who doesn’t do that,” said Marcus Fraser, one half of the Australian team that will tee-up next month at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. “This might get me into trouble, but Baltusrol is far from my favourite course amongst all the majors I’ve played (this will be his 12th). It’s just another one-dimensional track. The ball is going to be played in the air all week. It’s pretty much ‘walk onto the tee, tee the ball as high as you can and swing away’.”

Marcus Fraser says its a shame Baltusrol is one dimensional and set-up to only suit the longest of hitters. PHOTO: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images. Marcus Fraser says its a shame Baltusrol is one dimensional and set-up to only suit the longest of hitters. PHOTO: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images.

Fraser’s point is well made and is only exacerbated by the torrential downpour that engulfed the course on Monday evening.

“It’s a shame as the course was actually starting to dry out,” continues the Malaysian Open champion. “It was playing better then. But now it is just so soft there is only one way to play. If you asked an Australian or a Pom who hasn’t been to the States to describe a typical American golf course this is pretty much what they would come up with.

“It doesn’t feel like a major championship course. Not the way it is playing or set-up. It just feels like it is presented to fit only one type of player. And that player is not me. So many of the par-4s are around 500-yards long. I’m hitting so many long-irons in, maybe a couple of rescues. Only on the 8th – where I hit 3-wood off the tee then wedge in - gives me a break from that. Plus, all the par-3s are over 200 yards. All I can really do is practice my long irons. I warm up with a couple of wedges then go straight to my 4-iron.

“That’s how it is and the way most courses are on Tour these days. But that doesn’t make it right. Of the four majors this has to be the one that is least distinct from a regular event. It’s a good course, but it would be so much better if it was firmer. There are actually a few holes where you could run the ball in if the turf wasn’t so soft. It isn’t overly tight off the tee. But there is so much rough. It’s especially one-dimensional around the greens. There is only one chip-shot to learn. There’s just no variety.”

Not surprisingly, such a scathing verdict has not been repeated elsewhere. At least not publicly. Golf’s elite players are way too smart to create a storm of controversy on the eve of an event that will help define careers. Day took that principle a step further, however. One year on from his thrilling victory at Whistling Straits, the 28-year old Queenslander pitched up for his pre-championship press conference before playing his first – and only – practice round on a course he has never seen before.

Jason Day has been battling a virus while his wife has spent time in hospital this week, restricting him to one practice round. PHOTO: Drew Hallowell/Getty Images. Jason Day has been battling a virus while his wife has spent time in hospital this week, restricting him to one practice round. PHOTO: Drew Hallowell/Getty Images.

While Day was always intending to skip practice on Monday of tournament week, that absence turned into two days when he caught a bug from son Dash and wife Ellie was rushed to hospital after an allergic reaction to a seafood meal.

“I’m kind of running on E (empty) right now,” admitted Day. “Ellie is fine now. We both lost a bit of sleep but we’re okay.”

Well, maybe not. Day’s garbled response to a question on his slow starts to the 2016 majors makes one wonder as to his state of mind.

“You’ve got to come out and fire on all cylinders and get yourself up the leaderboard and show people that you’re there and you’re ready to win,” he said. “But with the limited practice and limited prep that I’ve had this week, I’m not coming in expecting a lot. Obviously I’m expecting to win. But like I’m not really going. All right. You need to go out and force things straightaway.

“I’ve got to really try and manage my patience out there. Because I have very little patience right now. Just for some reason every time I get a little bit under the weather, I’ve got zero patience. I’ve got to try and manage that the best I can.”

Quite. Sometimes professional golf can be a confusing business. The preamble anyway.