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RIO DE JANEIRO -- The light was just right Tuesday morning at the Olympic Golf Course, and the man who designed the layout figured it was a good time to try to take some photos.Gil Hanse spotted two-time major champion Martin Kaymer playing down the first fairway and thought, Wow, were actually here. Theyre actually playing our golf course.Im not sure if that is the point where it really hit me, but I think that is the point where the pride really started to flow.Hanse, 53, was the surprise choice for the Olympic Golf Course project, his Gil Hanse Golf Design company beating out industry heavyweights such as Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Gary Player, Martin Hawtree, Robert Trent Jones Jr., Peter Thomson and Tom Doak.And there is no way he could have known back in March 2012, when the contract was awarded, what was ahead.Environmental issues. A land dispute. Construction delays. As much as all of the Olympic Games in Brazil have been affected by various problems and negativity, so, too, was the golf course.Had the 2016 Olympics been awarded to, say, Chicago, there would have been numerous choices to stage the Olympic tournament. Not so here, where just two courses existed in Rio; neither is public or suitable for a major golf competition.The new course was built in the Barra da Tijuca section of Rio within a natural reserve on sandy-based terrain that provides excellent drainage and a links-like feel. There are virtually no trees on the property, so wind will be a factor. Only a lagoon separates the course from the Atlantic Ocean.What struck me was how little dirt he really moved, Ty Votaw, an executive with the PGA Tour who is also vice president of the International Golf Federation, told ESPN.com. He really built a golf course that rolled with the terrain he was presented with. Because of this location, seaside, it has a links feel to it. But he designed something that fit really well into the landscape and topography.Players such as Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler both noted its Australia-like qualities, especially the sand belt region near Melbourne, where the courses are known for the links-like, sandy-based terrain.We talked to Gil earlier today and told him how much we appreciated what he did here, said Bubba Watson, the top-ranked American in the field. Its beautiful. The layout is unbelievable. Couldnt ask for anything more.For the mens tournament that begins Thursday, the course will measure 7,128 yards (6,245 yards for the womens event, which starts Aug. 17) and play to par-71. It has four par-5s and five par-3s.The finishing holes offer the chance for drama with a drivable par-4 at the 16th, the par-3 17th, and then a reachable par-5 18th.One of the reasons Hanse was selected for the job was he was willing to relocate to Rio from his home in Malvern, Pennsylvania. All of the applicants were offered a set fee of $300,000, well below market value; Hanses design group could easily expect to earn double that and likely triple now that hes had the exposure that comes with the Olympic project. Designers such as Nicklaus and Norman routinely command seven-figure design fees. (Nicklaus later offered to waive the design fee, believing the Olympic project was so important to the game.)Hanse had also been awarded the task of revamping the Blue Monster course at Doral, owned by Donald Trump. He also designed Castle Stuart, where the Scottish Open was played last month; did an overhaul of Los Angeles Country Club; made alterations at TPC Boston, site of the Deutsche Bank Championship. And he recently completed a third course at Streamsong Resort in Florida.But seven months into a planned yearlong stay in Brazil -- with his wife and a daughter who was close to college age -- Hanse realized the process was going to take much longer.He moved back home, then took numerous trips to Brazil, spending 10 to 14 days at a time, overseeing the construction. Delays became worrisome because a test event was supposed to be played a year ago (the course was not ready) and a new course needs time to grown in and soften.I was really delighted how quickly the course matured once it was grassed, said Peter Dawson, the IGF president and former long-time CEO of the R&A who along with Votaw served on a four-person committee that picked Hanse for the job. If it had been going on in the U.K., it wouldnt yet be ready. But down here it went quickly.I think he produced a masterpiece, frankly. And hes been a delight to work with. The players Ive spoken to have been very positive. I think theyre all surprised how good it was. I dont think they were sure what they were coming to.Several of the design applicants brought on a woman partner to help strengthen their bid, which is why Nicklaus pitch seemed so formidable when he enlisted Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam, who dabbles in course design.Not only that, Nicklaus and Sorenstam had been prominent campaigners for golfs inclusion in the Olympics when the sport was awarded a spot in 2009. Norman had Lorena Ochoa on his team, and Thomson worked with another Australian icon, Karrie Webb.Hanse brought on Amy Alcott as a consultant and could not have been happier with her role.Her being in the room I think gave us more credibility having a womens golf Hall of Famer up there, Hanse said. She talked wonderfully about how she got into the game and how much this golf course could provide an opportunity going forward.She also gave Hanse feedback on landing areas, a tricky aspect to the design because the course needed to be championship caliber for both men and women. If the idea is to have a hole play as a driver, 7-iron, for instance, then the tees need to be moved up for the women to hit a 7-iron to the green -- and the landing area also will be in place close to the hole.There are different ways to provide risk-reward without piling hazard after hazard out there, Hanse said. Amy was really good about those type of discussions.Ultimately, having a great competition and tournaments that are remembered and appreciated by Brazilians will be the most important aspect in forming a legacy, Hanse said. Getting them to come here to play the course and embrace golf will be the next great challenge after the Games are complete.For now, Hanse can only watch, his design and all that went into it ready when for so long there were doubts about this day ever arriving.As a designer, you have a certain intuition as to what youve built and how its going to play, he said. I feel really good about what we built and I think knowing that the conditioning is where it is ... looking at the weather, the wind is going to blow, well get wind from different directions ... I think the golf course will be shown off in its best light. And thats good.But dont get me wrong; on Thursday morning Ill be shaking like a leaf, nervous and excited at the same time.Nike Air Max 90 Essential Billig Kaufen . Paul Pierce couldnt believe he missed at the end. 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Nike Air Max 720 Billig .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St.CLEMSON, S.C. -- Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson has apologized to Tigers fans for his negative energy that he believes has contributed to the teams sluggish start on offense.Watson said he spoke with quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter on Sunday night and head coach Dabo Swinney on Monday morning about re-focusing his attitude to more of the fun-loving, care-free vibe he brought to the Tigers in his freshman and sophomore seasons.Its a blessing, its a privilege to be in this position, Watson said. It just kind of got away from me for a little bit with all the attention that Ive gotten. So, Ive just got to find myself and be back.All will likely be forgiven by Clemson fans if Watson and the Tigers quickly return to their explosive 2015 form.So far, though, No. 5 Clemson has been an offensive mishmash of overthrown balls, dropped passes and line breakdowns in too-close-for-comfort wins over Auburn (19-13) in the season opener and Troy (30-24) on Saturday -- a far cry from the super offense they were expected to have this season.The Tigers (2-0) play FCS opponent South Carolina State this week, a team theyve outscored 179-20 in three all-time meetings.For Watson, 20-2 as Clemsons starter, the next game will be a mix of fun and execution.Weve got to get back to basics and playing Clemson football, he said.Watson, who turns 21 on Wednesday, acknowledged the crush of media attention last season as Clemson rose to No. 1 disrupted his routine and, at times, his laid-back nature. When things intensified this offseason, Watson wore a more sullen face to interviews, his answers to questions becoming clipped and repetitive.He apologized for that, too.It can easily be on the flip side, Watson, the possible No. 1 pick in next years NFL draft, said with a smile. No one wanting to talk to me.Watson was far from alone in offensive miscues against Troy. Co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott counted eight drops from Tiger receivers, Deon Cain, Hunter Renfrow and Trevion Thompson all missing balls tthat couldve -- shouldve in Scotts opinion -- been touchdowns.ddddddddddddThere was also receiver Ray-Ray McClouds massive punt return flub, flipping the ball at the 1 before crossing into the end zone to negate what wouldve been a 75-yard special teams touchdown.Scott said if Clemsons receivers make the plays they should, the Tigers experienced offense will look more like the juggernaut many expected from the outset of the season with Watson among the Heisman Trophy front-runners.The first two games, weve had a seasons worth of (bad) experiences that well learn from, Scott said.Watson, at times, expects too much of himself.Their bar is set very high, Scott said. And when youre not reaching that bar, youre very disappointed.Watsons numbers are solid, just not spectacular -- and he emphasized he was not apologizing for his play. He has thrown for 540 yards, hitting 52.9 percent of his passes, with four touchdowns and three interceptions. A 1,000-yard rusher last season, Watsons run for 76 yards through two games and has not yet broken the big one that made Clemsons attack so effective a year ago.His first of three TD passes against Troy set a Clemson school record with an touchdown throw in 18 straight games.Watson, whos had shoulder, finger and knee injuries while at Clemson, said physically hes fine.The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Watson felt the negative energy in the Troy game, a restless crowd of nearly 80,000 growing more frustrated each time Clemson left the field short of points.That starts with me, he said, thus his Im sorry to fans and pledge to improve.Watson believes hell bring a more positive attitude to the field when he suits up this week and continue to work to bring the Tigers back to the top.Well turn that thing around, he said, and go back to work and start playing Clemson football.---Online: AP College Football website www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '