The Presidents Cup: rife with drama, intrigue, and so far, mediocre golf

SAN FRANCISCO -- Whether it's nerves, or the conditions, or the fact that all these guys have inhaled too much secondhand smoke from Michael Jordan, the early going here at Harding Park hasn't exactly been pretty.

Hunter Mahan pumped his opening drive left and into the trees, then did the same thing two holes later. His partner Sean O'Hair missed a par putt from less than three feet.

One group ahead, as Tim Clark tried to punch through an opening, his ball caught the heart of a cypress tree and began rolling backwards on the cart path -- a mishap that was only surpassed on the next hole when opponent Anthony Kim had a clean look at the green from the fairway, pushed his approach right, then dropped his club in disgust.

There have been some seamless showings, namely Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker, who have jumped out ahead of Geoff Ogilvy and Ryo Ishikawa. But those players so far have been more the exception than the rule.

-- Sam Weinman