U.S. Open: When It Rains, It's Havoc

The U.S. Open is tough enough in good weather, but what you have Thursday at Bethpage Black is total pandemonium.

I was fortunate to cover five Opens and caddied at a sixth, and I am glad not to be at Bethpage. It got ugly, early.

Witness the opening drive of Tiger Woods—it flew to the left of left, all the way to the souvenir tent.

He salvaged a miracle par and, in the process, began to battle his rainsuit top, which appeared to be bothering him.

By the seventh hole, a birdie, a double and four pars later, he was staring at a 10-footer for par when it was time to head in. The horn sounded to stop play at 10:15 a.m., greens were covered with standing water, with streams running down many fairways.

At least one major name was already in the process of shooting himself out of the competition. Paddy Harrington, who is used to the bad weather in Europe, was four-over through six and looking to go to five-over after seven holes.

Of course there was a no-name leader out early, and his name was Jeff Brehaut, an unheralded Nationwide tour player, setting the pace at one-under par through 11.

Woods, Jim Furyk, Henrik Stenson, Steve Stricker, Angel Cabrera, and a bunch were hanging around at one-over in the early going.

Anyone who can read a weather map can tell this tournament is already in trouble. The grounds can't hold much more water, yet it is predicted to continue.

The rain is also causing people to ask questions that it is too early to answer:

What day will this first round conclude? How many more squeegees will they break out? Can Tiger find a rain suit top that fits? How will Bethpage ever dry out with more rain predicted Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Stay tuned, and keep the umbrella handy.