Open facing weekend washout

ATROCIOUS weather conditions have thrown the 109th US Open into turmoil with the likelihood now the championship will run over into Monday and possibly even Tuesday.

USGA tournament director Jim Hyler was forced to call a halt to proceedings at 10.15am yesterday as the anticipated rain storm poured down with increasing intensity until the hope for any further play was abandoned shortly before 2pm.

First round play will recommence at 7.30 this morning, weather permitting, but even Hyler admitted the forecast is so bad over the coming days the future of the championship is in the lap of the gods. Fairways, bunkers and greens flooded as squeegees were pressed into service and players even had the line of their putts “mopped” up without any breach of the rules of golf. But the intensity of the torrent brooked no argument.