Tiger Woods, Steve Flesch and Ernie Els were among a sizeable contingent to suggest no amateur could go inside three figures on the notoriously demanding 7,643-yard course.

“I don’t see it happening,” said Woods last week. “People don’t realize how thick the rough is, and how difficult it is controlling shots.”

“It’ll be like five hours of root canal,” said Flesch. “It’s hard enough for any amateur to play a Tour course we play on, much less a US Open track.”

Timberlake and Romo were joined by NBC presenter Matt Lauer and competition winner John Atkinson to compete in Golf Digest’s US Open Challenge, a televised round to be screened as a precursor to the final round of the Major on Sunday 15th June.

Timberlake, who plays off two but has not posted an official score in three years, returned a 27-over-par round of 98, while Romo went round in a highly respective 84 to win the competition. The NFL star is no mug, however, and has posted respectable totals in attempting to qualify for the US Open on three occasions.

Lauer carded a round 100, while cancer survivor Atkinson – who emerged from 56,000 entrants to earn the right to play – scored 114.

Lauer had good friend Greg Norman on his bag for the round, and the Great White Shark reflected on an an elightening afternoon for club golfers the world over.

“This was a reality check,” he said. “A player on a municipal course with no rough who shoots 90 thinks they should feel good about it.

“This was the extreme, ultra test. These guys aren”t used to walking 18 holes, the fatigue that comes with it, the blood sugar dropping and losing the mental focus. But you have to find a way to come back in the moment.”

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