All the big names in golf  – Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy and more – will be taking aim at one of the sport's major titles when the U.S. Open Championship begins a four-day run Thursday at the Olympic Club Lake Course in the southwest corner of San Francisco.

Tickets to the event are no longer officially available – US Golf Association officials declared the Open to be sold out yesterday, for the 26th consecutive tournament – but fans can get an almost "you are there" experience nonetheless by wandering over to Union Square during the four days of the championship.

Every afternoon from Thursday through Sunday, Sports Illustrated at the Majors is hosting a variety of Open-themed activities downtown. Besides watching the actual tournament on the big-screen, you can get free golf lessons from pro Brian Manzella, participate in a putting challenge and win prizes in a trivia contest.

The Union Square event, which takes place from noon to 6 pm, is open and free to all. Or you can simply find your favorite sofa or watering hole and watch the insane amounts of coverage – 32 hours over the four days of championship play – on both ESPN and NBC.