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It's every golfers dream to appear at the U.S. Open.

And it's about to come true for Andre Cannonier. While he may not quite be appearing alongside Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and company on Thursday, Cannonier will be displaying his skills on the same stage.

As a groundsman at one of golf's biggest events he will be charged with helping to prepare the course - Bethpage Black in New York - for the world's greatest.

It's a nerve-racking prospect for the Tucker's Point groundsman but one that he is relishing.

"There's a bit of extra pressure but I will be able to say I cut that hole or I rolled that green when Tiger knocks in a putt.

"There's definitely some bragging points."

Tiger

"I'm a big Tiger Woods fan and I'm looking for him to take it. My boss was a groundsman last year when he won the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. I was very jealous at the time but now I've got my turn.

"If I do get to meet him I will be ushering him to Bermuda as quickly as I can. I'll tell him 'look, you've got to come to Bermuda, we want to see you.'

"My personal opinion, if he does come here, the island will shut down."

Cannonier travelled to the U.S. on Saturday. He's been working all week to prepare the course for the practice rounds and come 4:30am on Thursday he will be back out with the rest of the crew mowing the fairways, cutting the greens and setting the tee-placements.

"I'm going to try to do all the major jobs for the week - greens one day, bunkers the next, tees the next -  whatever is required to get the total experience."

Cannonier and the rest of the ground staff - top golf course superintendents from around the world - will be working strictly behind the scenes. They are on the course at the crack of dawn to get it ready for the day's play.

But when the tournament gets under way they have to disappear into the crowd and watch the action before reappearing in the evening to start the prep for the next day.[[In-content Ad]]

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