The US Open golf championship is always a stiff test for the competitors, but this year the emphasis shifted somewhat in that it was the course itself which has come under the most scrutiny.
American golfing authorities admitted they had taken something of a gamble in selecting the Merion course, described by one observer as "charmingly different".
The course is just under 7,000 yards and it was feared the par-70 East Course, originally designed a century ago, would be vulnerable to low-scoring.
While it was a stiff test in the old days, Merion was not designed for times when players can drive the ball such great distances as they do today. As the weekend progresses it will certainly be interesting to see how Merion copes with the advanced technology and superior strength of today's players.
Astute pin placements may well be the answer.
What Merion found it hard to deal with on the opening day was not the modern golfer, but Mother Nature, which struck with a fierce storm after just two hours and repeated the process later in the day.
Through the unfortunate weather disruptions, however, it was already emerging that Merion still carries a bit of bite.
At the end of the first day, there were only 15 players under-par, although many had not completed their rounds. And no one had ripped the course apart, Phil Mickelson being the clubhouse leader on three-under.
At the other end of the scale, there were players on 11-over.
Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee struggled and was three-over after 10 holes when play ended.
Thongchai could really do with a repeat of his last appearance in the US Open at Pebble Beach in 2010, when he achieved a hole-in-one.
The Thai player was in good company though. Among a host of stars on three-over at the end of the day were former major winners Graeme McDowell, Padraig Harrington and Martin Kaymer.
One worry was that Sergio Garcia might take a hammering from the gallery over his "fried chicken" spat with Tiger Woods. However, the crowd was relatively benign, although some "clucking" was heard from spectators as the Spanish player approached the 18th.
USGA executive director Mike Davis admitted he was expecting low scoring.
"There will be more birdies made at this US Open than any we have seen in recent history," he conceded.
It is no coincidence that although the course has hosted four US Open tournaments, the last time it had the honour was back in 1981 when it was won by Australia's David Graham.
The shortness of the course has one very important plus. It means you don't have to be a big hitter which the more modern courses demand. It allows more players to be competitive.
Also, because the course has been off the US Open circuit for 32 years, the players are not very familiar with it. In this week's field, no more than a dozen had played the course before.
Merion is intriguing in many ways, although to the casual golf fan there might be a feeling of imbalance in that it only has two par-fives, and they are very early on, at the second and fourth holes.
With players normally looking at the par-fives for their birdie chances, they will have to turn to the par-fours, and there are plenty of them. Possibly the most tempting par-four is the short 10th at just 303 yards.
Somewhat ironically, the par-threes are longer than usual, with one notable exception - the 13th is just 115 yards. However, it is not as easy as it looks. What may appear a comfortable birdie opportunity can suddenly transform into a frustrating bogey.
Merion also boasts Scottish-style bunkers, complete with broom on the fringes. Known as the 'White Faces of Merion', they are deeper than the average American bunker and are already proving quite a test.
Another feature that gives Merion instant recognition is that instead of flags attached to the pins, there are wicker baskets, resembling lobster pots.
Definitely not appreciating the baskets in the opening round was Lee Westwood who was going along nicely until he reached the 12th. His wedge shot hit the basket and the ball rebounded a long way off the green back from where it came. The net result was a double-bogey and no doubt a few "basket-case" headlines.
One of the more bizarre moments in golf took place at Merion during the 1971 US Open.
At the start of the 18-hole play-off between Lee Trevino and Jack Nicklaus, Trevino pulled out of his bag a large rubber snake and tossed it over to Nicklaus, who saw the funny side.
If it was designed to psyche out Nicklaus, it worked. Trevino went on to win - the only time Nicklaus lost in a major play-off.
Merion was also the scene of one of the most courageous one-iron shots ever. In 1950, Ben Hogan, still recovering from a horrific car crash the year before, had to make par at the 18th. His drive was not the best, but he then hit a magnificent one-iron into the wind and on to the green. It set up the par he needed to reach the play-off, which he went on to win.
So has the "charmingly different" course withstood the test of time? Well only know for sure tomorrow, but one thing is certain, even without rubber snakes Merion still possesses enough punch to provide plenty of drama.