US Open Update: Play Is Suspended Due To Heavy Rain

As expected, the downpour arrived at Bethpage very early this morning and gradually came down harder until play at the 2009 US Open was eventually suspended at 10:15 am.

Vijay Singh teed of the first hole at 7:44 am and found his name atop the leader board after a birdie at the second.

Vijay’s name only appeared on the top of the leader board for a very brief time as he bogeyed the third and sixth holes to move to one-over-par or the day.

The rain was coming down in buckets when Tiger Woods stepped onto the first tee at 8:06 am amidst a sea of thousands of umbrellas lining each side of the fairway.

Woods was greeted by a large ovation from the crowd.  But, the crowd was quickly silenced and shocked when Woods pull-hooked his drive over the gallery lining the left side of the fairway and clear over a concession stand that was a good 40 yards left of the fairway.

It’s not often that you see Tiger Woods flustered, but after his horrific tee shot at the first he looked baffled and almost embarrassed.

Woods’ shot was so far left of the hole that he actually had a great lie on grass that had been flattened down by the pedestrians around the concession stand, thus Woods was able to par the hole.

Padraig Harrington, who is playing alongside Tiger Woods and Angel Cabrera for the first two rounds, has been struggling with his game since winning back-to-back majors to close out the 2008 season.

But, if anyone would have any kind of advantage on a day like today, it would be Padraig Harrington who grew up playing in this weather in Dublin, Ireland.

But, Harrington is off to a tough start with bogeys and the first and fourth holes and a double bogey at the fifth.

After escaping with a par on the first hole, Woods’ round was uneventful until the 5th, where he recorded a double bogey after hitting a tree lining the right side of the fairway with his drive.

Woods quickly followed his double bogey at the fifth with a birdie at the sixth. 

Woods found the bunker with his approach shot at the brutally long 525 yard par four seventh.

When play was suspended, Woods was left with around five feet for par on the seventh green, which looked more like a water hazard than a US Open green.

If you want to learn more about the current leaders, you better start doing some internet searches.

Jeff Brehaut, Johan Edfors, Andrew Parr, and Ryan Spears were all tied for the lead at one-under par when play was suspended.

Play will most likely be suspended for at least an hour and possibly a lot longer.

Phil Mickelson was scheduled to tee off the 10th hole at 1:36pm.  But, his tee time will likely be moved back by several hours due to the weather delay.

If the weather report for today and the next three days is accurate, they could be here until Tuesday to finally get in a full 72 holes and crown a 2009 US Open champion.