Play suspended for day at saturated Bethpage
By Mark Lamport-Stokes
FARMINGDALE, New York (Reuters) - Play was suspended for the day at the rain-lashed U.S. Open on Thursday because of too much water on the greens, with half the field of 156 yet to tee off in the opening round.
Although organisers had been optimistic the rain would ease by early afternoon, they decided to call a halt at 1400 local time (1800 GMT).
Only 3 1/4 hours of golf was possible under leaden skies at Bethpage Black before play was initially suspended at 1015 (1415).
Little-known American Jeff Brehaut led at one under par after 11 holes, level with Swede Johan Edfors (four holes), Canadian Andrew Parr (three) and American Ryan Spears (three).
Holder Tiger Woods, the heavy favourite this week in pursuit of his 15th major title, was one over after six holes.
Persistent rain over the last six weeks had saturated the hilly 7,426-yard layout and further showers and thunderstorms have been forecast on Long Island for the next four days.
"The volume of rainfall was outpacing our ability to squeegee the greens," chairman of the championship committee Jim Hyler told reporters.
"That was the bottom line. The greens became unplayable and we just needed to suspend." Continued...
One Year Later
A year after militants laid siege to Mumbai, the country still remains very vulnerable. Full Article | Full Coverage
Liberhan Commission Report
The government published a long awaited report, recently leaked, accusing BJP leaders of a role in the 1992 destruction of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya. Full Article
