No Jason Day or Adam Scott but Australia’s Marcus Fraser has the lead in Rio

JUST because Austalia’s biggest names aren’t here doesn’t mean we won’t contend in the golf with Marcus Fraser leading by three shots in Rio.

Marcus Fraser has the first round lead after the opening round of the golf in Rio.

THERE was no Jason, no Adam and — despite all the fears of millionaire male golfers — no bloodthirsty Zika mozzies either.

But what the Olympic golf tournament did have on day one was Marcus Fraser birdies. Lots of them.

Fraser, from Corowa in NSW, teed up in Australian colours at the new course in Rio and with an 8-under-par 63, promptly shot an Olympic record.

The 38-year-old, who is ranked no. 90 in the world and only won selection after the withdrawals of Jason Day, Adam Scott and Marc Leishman, seized his moment and was the clubhouse leader by three shots after the first round.

Teeing up early and ahead of the stiff winds that hit the course in the afternoon, Fraser shot five birdies in the opening six holes, and another four on the back nine.

Marcus Fraser has the lead after the opening round in Rio.

It was a silky showing on a course whose hidden teeth managed to take big bites out of big names like Bubba Watson and Rickie Fowler, who are both in the bottom 15.

Aussie team member Scott Hend was another to stumble; he was cruising along at 2-under mid-round, when a five-over par ten ruined his day.

But Fraser hit the ball sweetly and dropped putts from long-range to make it an almost perfect day.

“​It was a dream start really, even from the opening tee. I was struggling with driver a bit earlier in the week but Finchy (team captain Ian Baker-Finch) sorted me out and it was probably the best drive I hit all week,” Fraser said.

“I was a little bit jumpy on the first tee this morning but I think everyone was with the Olympics being in for the first time, but I managed to birdy the first and get the round going.”

Asked if he ever imagined hearing the words “Olympic leader Marcus Fraser”, the Aussie golfer said: “Never in my life.”

“It so different to every other week that we play a tournament,” Fraser continued.

“Normally we out there playing for ourselves, but we are out there playing for Australia and secondly we are playing for ourselves.”

Great Britain’s Justin Rose managed a hole-in-one during the first round of the golf.

While attention has focused on the megastars who decided to not attend, Fraser said he was happy guys like Scott and Day stayed away. He wouldn’t be Olympic leader otherwise.

“I am glad they decided not to come, because I am here,” Fraser said.

“They have got their reasons why they’re not here. You have to respect their decision.

“I think we really should embrace the fact we have two guys who are here this week and really want to play for their country. Jason and Adam represent their country every single week they go out there and play. They have their reasons. They have families now as well and young kids, it is a big decision to come away.”

Fraser spent the previous night at the basketball, getting inspiration from the Boomers against the USA, and he’s been soaking up the Games life at every opportunity.

What little things about the Olympic experience made it special, Fraser was asked.

“The are two little things at home, my kids (Archie, 7, and Lily, 5) keep telling me I am going to the Olympics,” Fraser said.

“It is probably a thing later on in life that I will probably appreciate, that they’ll be able to be able to say their Dad went to the Olympics and played golf for Australia. To me that’s a big part of the reason why I wanted to come here.

DAY 5: AUSSIE GOLD IN THE POOL

“The Olympics are the Olympics aren’t they? There’s not much more to say.”

Hend said he was happy with his round other than his horror tenth hole, where he got stuck in two bunkers and the unusual Rio sand.

“I played some great shots but I got caught out by how bad the bunkering is out there, how bad the sand is,’ Hend said.

“I buried myself on ten there. It is way too deep. It’s a foot and a half of sand in the bunkers there. It is shocking. I actually played pretty well. If you take the ten out of it, it wasn’t too bad. It’s great that Frase played awesome.”

Originally published as No Jason Day or Adam Scott but Australia’s Marcus Fraser has the lead in Rio