Yes, these are scenes from a golf tournament

Blame Beijing. China's over-the-top opening ceremonies for the 2008 Olympics have forever altered the balance for kickoffs to major international sporting events. Now, thanks to the slightly terrifying spectacle demonstrated then, every competition has to bring some outsized artistic element to its introduction. Wednesday's start to the 2011 Presidents Cup in Australia was no exception; as you'll see in the photos below, there was everything from native dancing to artistic something-or-other to good ol' fashioned Aussie cowboys riding in with the treasured Cup. Both captains, Fred Couples and host Greg Norman, received lavish introductions, as did each member of each team. Combine that with a six-plane flyover from the Royal Australian Air Force's Roulettes, and you've got one heck of a starting gun. Here's hoping the actual golf will be half as exciting. More pictures follow.