In no other sport but golf can any fan get close enough to the action to stand an arm’s length from players and see the dimples on the ball.

That’s the good news.

The bad news is, it’s a free-for-all. U.S. Open tickets don’t distinguish between the nosebleed section or the front row, behind home plate or in the bleachers, in the end zone or on the 50-yard line. But this being golf, good manners generally prevail.

The choice at Pinehurst No. 2 is simple. Fans can stake out a great viewing location, such as the grandstand behind the first tee or the 18th green, or they can pick a player and follow him around.

If you pick a spot and camp out, you won’t have to battle masses of people walking in the same direction scrambling for a good view. This allows fans to see just about everyone in the field, from Tiger Woods to an amateur who makes it through two stages of qualifying.

On most holes, there are three potential viewing spots.

The tee box offers the best conversation. Players often have to wait for the fairway or green to clear ahead of them before hitting, and there can be entertaining banter among players, their caddies, sometimes the gallery. Fans can feel the pop of a titanium driver making contact with the ball and see where it’s going. But that’s all they see.

Some prefer the middle of the fairway, where they can see the tee shots land and whether a second shot stays on the turtleback greens of Pinehurst No. 2 or lands in a bunker. They can’t see how close it gets to the hole, but cheers or groans from the fans around the green will give them a good idea.

Behind the green – any green – is ideal, because that’s where the scoring takes place.

Follow the leaders

The other option is to follow a group of players, perhaps one that includes your favorite. That approach gives the spectator a good look at the entirety of Pinehurst No. 2, as well as a glimpse of the ups and downs of a player’s round.

The drawback is that at a major championship like the U.S. Open, walking the course is similar to being stuck in rush-hour traffic in Los Angeles.

Following someone like Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els or Vijay Singh requires standing behind at least two people (who chose option No. 1 and are camping out) on just about every shot. Luckily, because the ball is played in the air, even if you can’t see your guy from head to toe, at least you can see where his ball is headed.

Following a specific player also offers people-watching opportunities.

Their families often mingle in the gallery, and some of them are impossible to miss: Elin Nordegren, the Swedish model who married Woods; and Amy Mickelson, a former Phoenix Suns cheerleader who greets everyone with a smile. If you’re with Els, look for a woman with a sketch pad. That would be Liezl Els, his wife, who for years has drawn a picture of every hole at a major and charts the shots of her husband and the two players in his group.

Etiquette tips

For those who like to offer their own commentary, just keep in mind that you might be standing next to a player’s wife or father without knowing it. Choose your words carefully.

And keep in mind the etiquette that separates golf from other sports.

¢ Quiet, please: Keep silent when a player is about to hit his shot. Concentration is paramount in golf. Talking, coughing, sneezing and clearing throats should stop in the 30 seconds before a player’s turn. Some continue to shout “You da man” or “Get in the hole” as soon as contact is made, but that is so 1995.

¢ Don’t touch the ball: There may be times when a shot goes into the gallery. Leave it there. Woods once hit a shot into the gallery, and a spectator picked it up – apparently, the swoosh logo on the ball wasn’t enough of a tip that it might belong to a player.

¢ Be still: Movement can be a major distraction, sometimes more than talking. Stand still until the shot is hit, and then proceed.

¢ No cameras: Cameras are allowed during the practice rounds, but not once the competition starts Thursday.

¢ No cell phones: If you have one, keep it on silent. Better yet, turn it off or leave it at home. If you have to make or take a call, get off the course and head for one of the areas near the clubhouse that allow phone calls.