Rain will be biggest weekend factor at U.S. Open
Can Tiger Woods, the WagerWeb.com favorite, win the U.S. Open after a first-round 74 left him a 4-over par? It’s not impossible but doubtful considering the weather.
Tiger started Friday on the green at No. 7 at 1 over following Thursday’s suspension of play after heavy rains. Tiger immediately missed a six-foot putt for par to drop back to 2-over par. Yet Woods got it to even par by the time he reached the 15th hole.
That’s when trouble began. Tiger’s tee shot went into the rough on the right of the fairway. Woods’ approach fell short of the green on a hill before needing three puts to finish the 459-yard hole for a double bogey. He followed with bogeys on 16 and 18.
“I wasn’t playing poorly,” Woods said. “That’s the thing. I was even par with four to go. I was right where I need to be. Two bad shots and a mud ball later, here we go four over par.”
It’s unlikely that Tiger will start his second round until Saturday morning.
That first-round suspension was the first at the U.S. Open’s since 2004 at Shinnecock. And the forecast doesn’t look promising on Saturday or Sunday, with some speculating this tournament might not end until Tuesday or Wednesday. USGA officials acknowledged it will be very difficult to complete 72 holes by Sunday night, but that there will be a full 72 holes played (for those who make the cut).
“We will not determine a national champion until we play 72 holes,” said Mike Davis, the USGA’s senior director of rules and competitions. “So if that takes us into Monday or Tuesday, whatever.”
USGA meteorologists are predicting another inch of rain Saturday. Thus it will be “borderline impossible” to crown a champion by Sunday night, according to Davis.
The rain has made the course somewhat easier, which brings the field closer to Tiger in my opinion.
Woods is the best tough course player on the planet, but soft greens will open up this championship to many others now.
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