Fans began streaming in early. The players, those who weren’t involved in the delayed final round of the St. Jude Classic in Memphis, Tenn., found companions and put in some much-needed practice time.

Nothing was really for real on Monday, the first official day of the 99th U.S. Open. The putts didn’t count and the scores weren’t posted. Players were even taking mulligans, seeking to find the most suitable approach to those storied greens that Donald Ross created.

The atmosphere was definitely U.S. Open, though. Even on the first day of practice, three days before the putts count, there was an electric feeling in the air. The spectators, numbering in the thousands, were taking advantage of the less than rigid security to get autographs from everyone who even resembled a golfer.

Stuart Appleby, still trying to escape the pain of losing his wife, Renay, in that tragic traffic accident during the British Open last year, was soaking up some of that atmosphere.

"This is amazing," the Australian said. "I haven’t been to enough U.S. Opens to know if this is normal for a Monday, but this is pretty spectacular. It’s surprising to me to see so many people out. After all, this isn’t exactly New York City, you know."

Appleby was impressed by the No. 2 Course, too.

"I’m sure the greens aren’t as fast as they’re going to be," he said. "But they can’t let them get out of control or it will be embarrassing. You’re going to see a lot of good shots end up 20 yards from the flag. But if you drive the ball well and keep it in play, I think you can score.

"Chipping is the thing here. On every hole where you miss the green, a decision has to be made on how to play the recovery shot."

And how will Appleby play those tricky little devils?

"I don’t know yet," he said, "but I’m narrowing it down. I have two more days to decide whether to use a 5-, 6-, 7-iron, a pitching wedge, a sand wedge, a lob wedge or a putter. You just have to try to miss the greens in the right spot. A lot of people are going to be watching shots intensely and a lot of them are going to be talking to their golf balls this week."

Jeff Sluman isn’t the biggest guy in the lineup this week, but his game is big enough to make him a threat for the title. The 5-foot-7, 140-pound Sluman won the PGA Championship in 1988 and has a reputation of playing tough courses well.

"This course is in great shape," Sluman declared after his Monday round. "It’s absolutely in U.S. Open condition. This is no layup course and it’s not easy. In fact, I think it’s going to play very difficult. You’re going to have to hit it in the fairway to have any chance of being on the greens."

The number of spectators and the excitement permeating the air also impressed Sluman.

"It’s that U.S. Open atmosphere that you get," he said, "especially in places where they haven’t seen one in a while."

Sluman knows that he has been singled out as one of the players with the right kind of game to contend this week, but he downplays that angle.

"If you have the greatest game in the world for a certain course and you’re not playing well that week, you’re not going to win," he said. "My feeling is that the best player in the world this week will win."

Justin Leonard is another player who isn’t extremely long off the tee, but figures to have a game to suit USGA courses.

"The course is playing pretty dry, but it looks very good," the 1997 British Open champ said. "This is a different Open course from anything I’ve ever experienced because it’s all about the greens instead of the rough.

"When you miss a green, you’re just going to have to make a decision on how to get it on. The guy who makes the right decision the majority of the time is the guy who’s going to be the winner. Par will be a good score here."

Leonard, who has never played a tournament on No. 2, said he didn’t know what to expect from the course. "I came here with an open mind," he said.

"Is that an open mind or an Open mind?" a writer asked.

"A little of both," Leonard said, smiling.

Another man who is smiling is USGA Rules and Competition arbiter Tom Meeks. Some golfers who played early practice rounds voiced surprise at how easy they found No. 2 playing. Meeks disagrees.

"It’s gonna play tough," Meeks promised. "The only thing that won’t allow it to play tough is if we get a lot of rain. I haven’t heard any players say it was playing easy, but if they do say that, they’d better be prepared to eat their words."

Meeks wasn’t surprised at the huge turnout for Monday’s practice rounds, either.

"I’d say it’s pretty typical, depending on where you are," he said. "There’s a lot of magic in the air and it will get even more exciting on Thursday.

"Pinehurst is a special place. It deserves an Open. we’re happy to be here."