OAKMONT, Pa. – Steve Stricker was marking golf balls before his final practice round at the U.S. Open, when he dropped one on the green. He watched it trickle around his bag, appear on the other side and hit someone in the foot, a 180-degree in 5 feet.

Stricker is among the best putters, and even he took a breath on the eve of an Open held on a course reputed to have the fastest greens in the land.

That was before a thunderstorm moved into Pittsburgh. USGA officials were hopeful it would not change the course dramatically, but it figures to take some of the fright out of firm and fast conditions.

“It’s not going to be what we planned for,” said USGA agronomist Tim Moraghan. “We thought we’d have a true, hard test for players on Thursday.”

Padraig Harrington suggested the USGA has more control of the scoring at Oakmont than any other course – stick the pins in tough spots and no one breaks par.

“I wouldn’t be putting my house that 8 over par is going to win this tournament, but I think it’s certainly got a chance,” Harrington said.

Most players doubt they will be able to get out of the rough and onto the greens. The smart play is to wedge out, leave 100 yards to the green and try to hit another wedge close to the hole.

“You hit that wedge shot that takes a big hop and stops,” Stricker explained. “But here, it takes the big hop and stops, and then it continues to roll.”