U.S. Open Golf 2013: Updated Weather Outlook Prior to Round 1 at Merion
Merion Golf Club is a national historic landmark, and it's also the host of the U.S. Open Championship for the fifth time since 1934. Located in Haverford Township, Penn., Merion will also be the subject of poor conditions should weather strike the 2013 major championship starting on June 13.
Weather has plagued the PGA Tour several times so far this year, including last week at the Memorial Tournament, where play was suspended on Day 2 after weather and darkness were the calling cards of the second round in Ohio.
As always with an outdoor sport, weather will be a factor in both the conditions that the golfers have to deal with and how the tournament schedule plays out.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Since this is the first time since 1981 that the PGA Tour has chosen Merion to host the U.S. Open, there's no doubt that Tour and tournament officials want to be able to offer the field the best experience possible at the second major tournament of the year.
Of course, there's nothing anyone can do about the weather.
2013 U.S. Open Information
When: June 13-16, 2013
Where: Merion Golf Club, East Course; Haverford Township (Ardmore), Penn.
Watch: NBC and ESPN (for full schedule, check out Sporting News)
Defending Champion: Webb Simpson (Olympic Club in Calif.)
Last Merion Winner: David Graham (1981)
Other Merion Winners: Lee Trevino (1971), Ben Hogan (1950), Olin Dutra (1934)
Weather Update
According to Weather.com, things are going to be wet in Haverford Township over the next few days.
Staring with Sunday and moving into the three days before Thursday's opening Round 1, there's at least a 30 percent chance of rain in three of the first four days and a 10 percent chance on Wednesday with "partly cloudy" as the description.
Things don't get better from there.
| MERION Eight-Day Forecast (via Weather.com) | |||
| Date | High (F) | Chance of Rain | Comments |
| Sunday, June 9 | 83 | 30% | Isolated T-Storms |
| Monday, June 10 | 75 | 50% | Scattered T-Storms |
| Tuesday, June 11 | 79 | 40% | Scattered T-Storms |
| Wednesday, June 12 | 81 | 10% | Partly Cloudy |
| Thursday, June 13 | 79 | 40% | Showers |
| Friday, June 14 | 79 | 20% | Partly Cloudy |
| Saturday, June 15 | 82 | 0% | Sunny |
| Sunday, June 16 | 83 | 10% | AM Clouds/PM Sun |
Thursday is expected to bring showers to the course, with a 40 percent chance of rain right now that is sure to increase as we get closer to the mark before the opening round. The final three days of the tournament don't appear to be laced with rain right now, but Thursday could have far-reaching effects on the entire tournament.
As Golf.com's Mike Walker reported on Friday, the course officials are looking to use a portion of the West Course in case two holes that are known to be prone to water do in fact become unplayable during the Open:
"According to Merion superintendent Arron McCurdy, the USGA will use two holes from Merion’s West Course — the 4th and the 5th — in the U.S. Open if two flood-prone holes on the East Course — the 11th and 12th — are unplayable during the tournament.
"
ESPN's Bob Harig reported on Saturday afternoon that rains are firmly entrenched in the minds of the tournament committee members after the events of the day, which included the remnants of Tropical Storm Andrea.
Rob Hodgetts of BBC Sport reported on Saturday that Merion is promising to be a tough test for the players seeking a major, and that will remain the case whether or not the greens slow down and winds set in.
Those factors might make the course even more challenging.
The weather report right now is both scary and promising if you're a fan of the game. It looks like the rain is going to set in, but that doesn't necessarily mean that all is lost.
It's wait and see time in Pennsylvania, and all the USGA, PGA Tour and these golfers can do is continue to check the forecast the next few days.
Notable Two-Round Pairings
- Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, Nicolas Colsaerts
- Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker, Keegan Bradley
- Matt Kuchar, Justin Rose, Brandt Snedeker
- Ian Poulter, Jason Dufner, Boo Weekley
- Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer
- Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott
*Pairings via USOpen.com.
Follow Bleacher Report FC Ethan Grant on Twitter:
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
