At 10:14 AM ET at Bethpage Black, Tiger Woods was making his way to his third shot in the greenside bunker on the par-4 7th hole. Rain had been pouring down on players all morning, and just before Tiger hit his shot, the USGA sounded the horn to suspend play at the U.S. Open.
Woods, who is currently 1-over par after he followed up his double-bogey on the 5th hole with a birdie on the 6th, decided to go ahead and hit his third shot out of the bunker, which he left to around 18 feet, and mark his ball as standing water was starting to accumulate on the greens.
If you think this is just a short delay, you probably aren't watching the live feed. Standing water on greens, the rough playing nearly impossibly and guys struggling to stay dry and warm all led to the decision to suspend play on Thursday, and some think that golf may be done for the day.
FanHouse's Greg Couch is at Bethpage Black and sent this message about what it looked like on the golf course.
"Flooded cart paths look like rivers. Downpour right now. Supposed to let up for one hour mid-afternoon. I'd be willing to bet we're done for the day."
Latest U.S. Open Images
Spectators make their way through flooded grounds as they leave the Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., Thursday, June 18, 2009. Play was canceled at the U.S. Open Golf Championship because of inclement weather and will resume on Friday. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
AP
Water soaks the 14th green at the Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., Thursday, June 18, 2009. Play was canceled at the U.S. Open Golf Championship because of inclement weather and will resume on Friday. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
AP
Water soaks the 14th green at the Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., Thursday, June 18, 2009. Play was canceled at the U.S. Open Golf Championship because of inclement weather and will resume on Friday. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
AP
A combination of three pictures shows a spectator diving into a puddle after play was called for the day during first round of the U.S. Open golf championship on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York, June 18, 2009. REUTERS/Matt Sullivan (UNITED STATES SPORT GOLF)
Reuters
Water floods the second green at the Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., Thursday, June 18, 2009. Play was canceled at the U.S. Open Golf Championship because of inclement weather and will resume on Friday. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
AP
A ball sits on a rain-soaked third green at the Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., Thursday, June 18, 2009. Play was canceled at the U.S. Open Golf Championship because of inclement weather and will resume on Friday. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
AP
Water floods the second green at the Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., Thursday, June 18, 2009. Play was canceled at the U.S. Open Golf Championship because of inclement weather and will resume on Friday. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
AP
A member of the grounds crew drives a golf cart through a puddle after play was called during the first round of the U.S. Open golf championship on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York, June 18, 2009. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton (UNITED STATES SPORT GOLF IMAGES OF THE DAY)
Reuters
Spectators leave the course after play was suspended during first round play in the U.S. Open golf championship on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York, June 18, 2009. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton (UNITED STATES SPORT GOLF)
Reuters
A spectator leaves the course after play was suspended during first round play in the U.S. Open golf championship on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York, June 18, 2009. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton (UNITED STATES SPORT GOLF)
Reuters
Couch isn't the only one. A few other media members have messaged that the onslaught of rain may force the USGA to push all play to Friday, which will make for an absolute marathon. The Masters is infamous for having rain delays, but fields at Augusta National are usually around the 90-player mark. This week, the field is 156 players.
Ian Poulter, whom many think has a good shot at winning the tournament this week, has posted about the rain via Twitter, saying, "I can't see us getting back out on the course. Unless they give us a canoe and a paddle." Poulter also included a photo of the crowded players lounge as of late this morning.
More to come on the weather, but as of now, there are only four players, all at just 1-under, that are under par at Bethpage.
12:07 PM Update -- This comes from our man, Greg Couch, at Bethpage. "Announcement coming in 20 minutes, at 12:20 about whether they're going to play."
12:12 PM Update -- Couch let us know that play would be suspended for the day at Bethpage.
12:20 PM Update -- Now word on the street (well, the golf course) is that they might still try to play this thing on Thursday. No word yet on a final decision, but one will come shortly.
12:30 PM Update -- Couch has decided to tough it out for the good of FanHouse. He is out on the golf course now and just sent this update -- "I'm at the second green. It is under water. There are little puddles up and down the fairways." That doesn't sound good.
12:42 PM Update -- Our man in the flood, Greg Couch, just chatted with a security guard. "OK, I'm standing here talking to a security guard by the driving range. He said they just told him they're re-evaluating at 1:30 (PM), and hoping to play in a three-hour window.
Fat chance.
If it stops raining for three hours, it will take the whole time to get the place ready."
I couldn't agree more. From some of these pictures, you'd have a better chance playing water polo than golf at Bethpage.
12:48 PM Update -- Stephanie Wei, of Wei Under Par, just messaged me from Bethpage. "Everyone is leaving. Greens are completely under water. I don't see how they can play. It's flooded, even on the walkways. I don't see any sign of it clearing." Looks like a marathon Friday is in order.
1:06 PM Update -- From Jim Hyler, the USGA's chairman of the championship committee: "The volume of rain falling was outpassing our ability to squeegee the greens. So that was the bottom line. "
1:50 PM Update -- Play is offically called for Thursday. Golf will resume Friday at 7:30 AM ET.
Continued U.S. Open updates available on Twitter.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
It is now 79 degrees and sunny in California. If the Eastern Elites that govern USGA had any sense they would schedule The Open where the sun shines instead of close to home in THE ALL IMPORTANT EAST!!!!!!
Yeah, Furrsher, but you have to put up with smog, fires, earthquakes and Valley Girls who make no sense. Plus you have that phoney place they call Hollywood. Hey, somebody has to live on the Left Coast, so we're just happy it is folks such as you. Enjoy your day in LA LA Land and hope they don't burn more cars after the Lakers parade yesterday. Oh yeah, you got Manny and the womanizer, Kobe, to cheer for. Nuff said.
Darn - this must mean that we can't follow your live feed during Mickey's round today and distract ourselves from work??
the all important east, you got that right! they should just let california drift out to hawaii. How about a US open at the international. California, lets see pebble beach LAME, Torrey Pines, tiger wins no matter what over there, LAME. Bethpage is great, big deal rain. All the majors should be a s far from CA as possible. Unless the govnor has something to say about it. I wont be back. Go tips some cars over and burn something down. Be thankful Garnett got hurt or it'd be the same result as last year. Oregon is beautiful how about a major there, please no more cally courses
Wow, I had no idea how angry and jealous you easterners were. You should be, of course, because we have sunshine, beaches, year around golf. beautiful girls, and more, while you have rain, hail, sleet, snow, dirty ass Philly and New York. We have the Rose Bowl and you have the toilet bowl. Your snappy retort is that we burned a couple of cars after our win (your loss).
@Ed Fielding
The west coast has people like you. The east coast doesn't. We win.
Proverbially, blame this on global warming? It looks like they need to squeeze in two rounds either on Saturday or Sunday when the field is down to the top 70 or so.
I seem to remember a few tournaments washed out in California in the pat. The Usga tries to bring the Open to all the different sections of the country. When it's an outdoor sport, weather is always a factor. At least they still play it in the USA, unlike the NFL who farm out home games to England!
Once the rain gets over itselg it's either Cabrera or Woods taking the prize. Mickelson will be close third. Ian.... somewhere in between.
Southern Hills in Tulsa the place to be playing in the middle of June.
this is baseball season--who cares about golf--??
baseball sucks
They could be playing in Oregon.....all the nuts from Cali could come visit, and the sharp tongued devils from the big apple could use some fresh air.
One thing to look at is the peril of the Thursday ticket holders. No refunds or exchanges, and only Friday tickets will be honored for the continuation of Thursday's play. The people who spent a minimum of $100 ( face value ) are screwed. Nice of the USGA to look out for the fans.
Looks like rain off and on and on (and windy and frigid) all weekend, folks, from our reports- a huge Low over the bay draggin' in all that nastiness...never trust New York weather in June. Never.
tourny is at pebble beach next year. not sure why you would cry its on the east coast this yr...in my eyes your lucky to even have it in cali next yr....your state is bankrupt...
The USGA are a bunch of stuffed shirts! There is NO way that the first round early wave had a chance. It was pouring rain, then they suspend the round only to let over half the field start their rounds, finish their rounds and begin play in the second round on a beautiful day..then bring back the early wave to play thier second rounds two days later in the rain again... A joke USGA.....