It was a lonely place on the first tee this morning, but Kevin Stadler had the consolation of a friendly face amongst the galleries - one of his very first coaches.

Jenny Liu is a teaching pro at the Torrey Pines course in San Diego and the young Kevin was one of her charges.

Not surprisingly, she was a little nervous as we watched the Baby Walrus flick an iron shot towards the first green.

Jenny might have been struggling to remain composed, but she expected Kevin to be quite calm.

"He's like his dad," she told me, referring to Craig Stadler, the one time US Masters champion. "They both play quick and they both play relaxed."

Like his father, Kevin also enjoys travelling the world.

"He plays in different countries on purpose," Jenny explained. "It is good for his education. He learns how to putt on different types of grass and it helps him to stay relaxed in big competitions like this."

The weather was getting worse as we approached the treacherous third green.

Stadler hit his approach into the burn that protects the front of the putting surface and Jenny punched the air in frustration.

"He was in a good mood this morning," she sighed. "He liked his chances."

At that point the rain forced us both off the course.

But there was no escape for the Baby Walrus. He hitched his trousers once more, bowed his head into the wind and wandered off into the rain.