AP
Tiger and the field played through the rain Thursday morning.
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- As expected, heavy rain and wind greeted players for the start of the 109th U.S. Open Championship on Thursday at Bethpage Black. Play was suspended at 10:15 a.m. ET and was ultimately postponed at 1:55 p.m. due to inclement weather and standing water on the fairways and greens.
"It was pretty wet and windy," said defending champion Tiger Woods, who was 1-over par through six holes and had an eight-foot putt for par on the seventh green when play was called.
"It was a slow day. It took 2 1/2 hours to play six holes."
Woods said the USGA made the correct move to start play.
"It was a good decision to play today," he said. "We had to get in as many holes as we could. We probably played more holes than we thought."
Woods teed off early in light rain with Angel Cabrera and Padraig Harrington. After hitting 14 consecutive fairways in the last round of the Memorial Tournament, Woods hooked his first tee shot Thursday into the left rough. His approach shot found a greenside bunker, but he managed to get up and down to save par.
Woods had decent birdie chances at the next three holes but settled for pars. At the par-4 fifth, he pushed his drive into the right rough, then slashed his second shot down the fairway. From there, he hit a 9-iron into the front bunker and two-putted from 10 feet for a double bogey.
"I hit it a little thin, and the wind knocked it down," Woods said of his third shot.
At the par-4 sixth, Woods rebounded quickly. He hit a 3-wood in the fairway, then knocked a 6-iron 15 feet from the flag and converted the birdie putt.
"The rain lightened up quite a bit on four and five," said Woods. "We didn't think it would be that bad. But on the sixth tee, it started pouring down."
On the long par-4 seventh hole, Woods missed the fairway, then hit his second shot into a front bunker. He had the option of stopping, but decided to play the bunker shot, blasting to eight feet.
"I wanted to hit the shot because I already had a feel for the sand," Woods said.
Woods knew conditions would be difficult and wasn't disappointed.
"It was pretty tough out there," he said. "There was a lot of standing water."
Play is scheduled to resume Friday morning at 7:30.
"It could be the same thing," said Woods. "It's a long day. Who knows, we may not start on time if we get more rain tonight. I just have to be ready at 7:30."