The U.S. Open Championship got off to a quick start on Thursday morning and play ended just as quickly, as a lightning warning took the players off the course at Merion after some already started, including Phil Mickelson, while Ian Poulter had the early lead with three birdies.
The warning horn blew at 8:36 a.m and organizers knew that weather would be a factor after over five inches of rain came down earlier in the week, making the course crazy wet and soft on the greens and now play will start up at just past noon on Thursday. Pulter had three birdies while four players were at two under and Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker added bogeys before coming off the course.
Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott are the group everyone wanted to see and now they will have to wait. Play was suspended at 8.36 a.m. due to the threat of lightning under darkening clouds early in Thursday's first round at the U.S. Open golf championship.
The siren sounded after just under two hours of play had been possible at rain-softened Merion Golf Club where severe thunderstorms and high winds have been forecast for later in the day.
Englishman Ian Poulter was the early leader in the year's second major at three under par, having birdied his first three holes after teeing off at the par-four 11th.
Long-hitting Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, South Africans Charl Schwartzel and Tim Clark and American Charley Hoffman were knotted at two under. Colsaerts had competed seven holes, Schwartzel and Clark were through four and Hoffman two.
Englishman Justin Rose had lined up a slick 15-foot downhill birdie putt at the par-four 15th shortly before play was suspended.
After barely touching the ball, he watched as his birdie attempt rolled two feet past the hole and then horseshoed out with his par putt to slip to one over for the round before the siren sounded to halt play.
Tournament favorite and world number one Tiger Woods was among the late starters, set to tee off with second-ranked Rory McIlroy and Masters champion Adam Scott on the first tee at 1:14 p.m. in the most eye-catching trio of the day.
However, Woods and company may not even tee off on Thursday with a derecho, a widespread windstorm associated with a fast-moving band of severe thunderstorms, expected to hit the Philadelphia area in the afternooon.
As much as three inches (7.6 cms) of rain has been forecast for the day, and Merion Golf Club's iconic par-70 East Course has already been saturated with more than six inches since Friday.
Though the layout drains extremely well, the biggest concern for organizers is the green and greenside bunker at the 11th hole, the lowest point on the course.
Extra care has been taken over the location of pin positions on greens more susceptible to puddles, while the safety of players and spectators has been paramount in contingency plans.
(Reuters Quotes)