“Good morning ladies and gentleman.  This is the 7am tee time. From Korea Dee Hyun Kim”.

And with that announcement from the USGA official starter, Kim stepped forward and teed-off to get the 2011 U.S. Open underway.

Korean Dee Hyun Kim with the opening tee shot of 2011 U.S. Open

In the opening round first group off the first tee with the Korean, dressed in bright yellow pants, was American Chez Reavie and Ireland’s Shane Lowry.

All but Lowry managed to find the fairway with the 2009 Irish Open winner finding a fairway bunker down the right.

The Irishman then missed the green left but managed to get up-and-down for a nervous start to his first U.S. Open.

Kim also walked off with a two-putt par from the front of the green while Reavie just missed his birdie putt from about 20-feet.

Light rain began falling as the three walked down the first fairway and it was a case of umbrellas up for all players including those of the nearby Congressional range.

Weather forecasters are predicting a heavier shower later in the day that will make the 7,574 course play even longer.

And the USGA advised that the way the course has been set up for the opening round it is playing 60 yards shorter than on 7,514 yards as it appearas on scorecards.