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We waited 112 years for golf to come back to the Olympics. The United States team of Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed and Matt Kuchar probably wishes we had waited one day longer. After talk of a potential U.S. sweep (they had four of the eight favorites coming in), the Americans largely laid an egg in the first round in Rio de Janeiro.

"Yeah, we're doing good on that, huh?" Reed joked after the round.

Only Matt Kuchar at 2 under and T11 played respectably in the first round. Reed is 1 over and T34. Watson is 2 over and T42. And Fowler, my goodness, is 4 over and T56. This is not a crazy good field, mind you. Fowler got beat by dozens of golfers you've likely never heard of.

Ricardo Gouveia beat him. So did Miguel Tabuena. Siddikur Rahman tied him. These are not golfers the No. 8 golfer in the world should be thwarting, and yet, here we are. I know this is just one round, but it does not portend well for the rest of the week.

The U.S. golfers know it, too.

"It's called golf, and it's very tough," Watson told USA Today. "Some guys showed that it's easy, and that's what we do. I hit a lot of great shots out there. Just the score is not what I wanted. But I've got three more days to challenge and keep enjoying my adventure this week."

On the flip side, it's tough for even the most volatile golfers (Bubba among them) to be angry no matter what happens this week. It has become clear that nearly all of the 60 golfers in this field feel this Olympics experiment of sorts is more about the experience of being an Olympic athlete than winning a medal.

"I've always said that I've got to complete all four rounds so I can say I officially was an Olympian," Watson told Golf Digest. "So yeah, it's an amazing feeling. I mean, I want to smile the whole time. A couple nights, I wanted to cry just because golf is in the Olympics, and for the first time in my life, I get to be the hero and play for our country. It's an absolutely amazing place and especially to the golfers, this course is in beautiful shape, the golf course. I'm having a blast."

So now only Kuchar is in a good position to medal with 54 holes left to go in the event. The other three American have plenty of firepower, though, and leader Marcus Fraser (who shot 63) proved there are low numbers to be had. So anything can happen with their next two rounds.

No matter what, this is going to be an odd outcome. Players are generally far more frustrated with poor play than they seem to be this week in Rio. That's a good thing, I suppose, but it's also an odd one. The allure of being in the Olympics has seemingly dulled a bit of the competition.

For these Americans, showing up seems to have been the thrill of their lives. Good for them for doing so, but I hope they aren't expecting much more because their play on Thursday didn't exactly scream the majority of them are going to receive anything beyond simply the label "Olympian."