Play Suspended at US Open Until Sunday, Barnes Remains in Lead

Posted Jun 20, 2009 7:10PM By Ryan Wilson (RSS feed)

Filed Under: PGA, US Open

When NBC came on the air at 10AM ET in the morning to begin its Saturday U.S. Open coverage, Al Roker told us that the rain would start around 1-2 PM, and the thunderstorms would follow a couple hours later. It never materialized, and not only did the field complete the second round (Thursday had been a wash, too), 36 of the 60 golfers to make the cut got a few holes into their third rounds.

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And then, a few minutes before 7 PM, the deluge finally began, three horns sounded, and that was that. Second-round leader Ricky Barnes remains atop the leaderboard, but he still has 36 holes to play. As for those players who snuck in a few holes this evening, only Oliver Wilson and Hunter Mahan were under par (both are 1-under for the week, currently T12).

The forecast calls for heavy rains in the Farmingdale area Saturday night, which would render Bethpage Black unplayable by morning. And while there will be scattered showers Sunday, the real test will be if the grounds crew can somehow get the course in shape for the players to resume their rounds. At this point, a Sunday finish is virtually out of the question, but the plan, according to USGA Executive Director David B. Fay, is to get in as much golf Sunday, and go from there.

On the upside, as Roker reminded us all day, Tuesday will be beautiful, so if the 109th U.S. Open stretches to six days, the course will finally play like the USGA intended.

For now, though, Barnes gets to sleep on the lead, something he hasn't done in a long time.

Latest U.S. Open Images

Tiger Woods looks at the downpour from under his umbrella as play is suspended because of inclement weather during the third round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship at Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., Saturday, June 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Tiger Woods waits for play to be suspended during a downpour during the third round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship at Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., Saturday, June 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Tiger Woods watches his chip shot on the 10th fairway during the third round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship at Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., Saturday, June 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Kenny Perry waves to the gallery before teeing off on the 10th hole during the third round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship at Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., Saturday, June 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Tiger Woods studies his course notes while waiting under his umbrella on the 10th hole during the third round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship at Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., Saturday, June 20, 2009. Play was suspended because of inclement weather. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Kenny Perry, left, chats with Carl Pettersson, of Sweden, before teeing off on the 10th hole during the third round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship at Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., Saturday, June 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Bubba Watson, left, waits to tee off on the 10th hole with his caddie Ted Scott during the third round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship at Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., Saturday, June 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, watches his drive on the 10th tee during the third round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship at Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., Saturday, June 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Bubba Watson tees off on the 10th hole during the third round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship at Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., Saturday, June 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Dustin Johnson walks past the flag on the fifth green after play was suspended because of inclement weather during the third round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship at Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., Saturday, June 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)