Play suspended at saturated Bethpage

By Mark Lamport-Stokes
FARMINGDALE, New York (Reuters) - Play was suspended in the rain-lashed first round of the U.S. Open on Thursday because of too much water on the greens.
Although squeegees were being used on every green, organizers decided to call a halt at Bethpage Black at 1015 local time (1415 GMT).
Little-known American Jeff Brehaut led at one under par after 11 holes, level with Swede Johan Edfors (four holes), Canadian Andrew Parr (three) and American Ryan Spears (three).
Holder Tiger Woods, the heavy favorite this week in pursuit of his 15th major title, was one over after six holes.
Persistent rain over the last six weeks had saturated the hilly 7,426-yard layout and further showers and thunderstorms have been forecast on Long Island for the next four days.
"The course is extremely wet," chairman of the championship committee Jim Hyler told reporters.
SEVERE WEATHER
"It rained pretty much the whole time we were doing the setup this morning and the forecast is for more rain to come in waves."
Hyler said the tees had been brought forward on the seventh, ninth, 10th and 12th holes to give the players some relief on the longest layout to stage a U.S. Open.
Seven of the par-four holes are in excess of 450 yards with three of them measuring more than 500.
Although the tight fairways are flanked by graduated rough, extensive rain in recent weeks has left the tangly grass wet, making it difficult for players to escape without penalty.
"Five or six yards off the fairway is where the heavy stuff starts and that's really bad," said 2006 champion Geoff Ogilvy of Australia.
"That's the spot not to go. That's the wedge back out on to the fairway.
"The guy who gets it up-and-down from 100 yards is going to be in good shape this week because there's going to be a lot of hacking out of the rough," added Ogilvy.
(Editing by Tony Jimenez)

Source: Reuters