Play suspended for day at saturated Bethpage

By Mark Lamport-Stokes
FARMINGDALE, New York (Reuters) - Play was suspended for the day at the rain-lashed U.S. Open on Thursday because of too much water on the greens, with half the field of 156 yet to tee off in the opening round.
Although organizers had been optimistic the rain would ease by early afternoon at Bethpage Black, they decided to call a halt at 2:00 p.m. EST.
At that point just over an inch of rain had soaked the par-70 course during the day, leaving pools of water on the greens and in low points on the fairways. The round, weather-permitting, will resume at 7:30 a.m. on Friday.
Only 3-1/4 hours of golf was possible under leaden skies on Thursday before play was initially suspended at 10:15 a.m.
"The volume of rainfall was outpacing our ability to squeegee the greens," chairman of the championship committee Jim Hyler told reporters.
"That was the bottom line. The greens became unplayable and we just needed to suspend."
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 having followed a double-bogey at the fifth with a birdie at the sixth.
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 five days.
LITTLE CHANCE
Although Friday's weather forecast was more promising, Hyler said there was little chance of completing the second round before Saturday when heavier rain is expected.
"We may be looking at Saturday morning to get the second round finished, get the cut and go from there," he added.
"But Saturday does not look good and then there's a possibility of more rain on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday."
The last time a U.S. Open spilled over into a fifth day before the 72 holes were completed was at Oakmont in 1983 when American Larry Nelson triumphed.
Hyler said the tees had been brought forward on the seventh, ninth, 10th and 12th holes for the opening round at Bethpage to give the players some relief on the sixth longest layout to stage a major championship. Continued...
Source: Reuters