Customers include clean-cut men in golf shirts, grannies and women cradling babies.

FORBES: On The Cover/Top Stories

Beyond the opponents, surprises always come up south of the border for the U.S. This day it was a field with grass as long as the first cut on a golf course, which made hitting crisp passes across the ground difficult.

WSJ: U.S. Soccer: Americans Hexed in Cup Qualifier

In a crisis, however, golf, karaoke and durian do not quite cut it.

ECONOMIST: Banyan

But he was also subjected to attacks and abuse during his 44 days, with members of the public throwing eggs, driving golf balls at the box and trying to cut his water supply.

BBC: Blaine is expected to make a full recovery

Kraft, wearing a blue Patriots golf shirt and Reebok running shoes, cranks one into the first cut of the left rough.

FORBES: The Sadness (And Salvation) Of New England Patriots Owner Robert Kraft

Her appearance at the 2003 Colonial in Texas put women's golf to the top of the sporting headlines and despite narrowly missing the cut, Sorenstam did enough to earn the respect of her male counterparts.

CNN: November 29, 2012 -- Updated 1326 GMT (2126 HKT)

However, golf commentator Maureen Madill told BBC Radio Ulster that it was not a clear cut solution as during his earlier career, McIlroy had represented both countries.

BBC: Rory McIlroy

But there's some marketing things we don't do, we're not reaching out to the fan the way golf or a lot of other sports do, so we've got our work cut out for us -- but that doesn't mean it can't turn around.

CNN: John McEnroe: 'Attila the Hun' of tennis