Rain disrupts US Open MyZA

English: Golfer Ernie Els walks up the fairway at the 2008 U.S. Open (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Heavy rain has interrupted practice for the second major of the year with play being suspended at the US Open during Monday at Merion.

The course was closed at the start of Monday and only reopened again at 11am after heavy rain overnight, and it returned enough to force USGA officials to close down Merion again just before 3pm.

It meant players who had not been able to complete practice rounds on the East Course had to make do with hitting shots on the driving range and practice area, which for this week is Merion’s West Course about a mile away.

The course was unable to be dried out properly though and the players were unable to get back out to continue their preparations, with USGA executive director Mike Davis forced to admit they may even use parts of the West Course for the US Open if needed.

“I’m giving you the doomsday of all doomsday scenarios,” Davis told reporters. “We wouldn’t use a hole from the West Course unless we absolutely otherwise couldn’t get this championship in – if we had a stream that wouldn’t recede for several days.”

The US Open is traditionally the toughest test of golf the professionals will face all year, but the rain which has already fell and that which is forecast will soften up the course, making it easier than it would be on a hard, dry track.

Two-time US Open champion Ernie Els has been at Merion since Saturday, and after playing the course is adamant it will not dry out throughout the tournament.

“You’re not going to see a firm US Open this year, I’m sorry. I don’t care if they get helicopters flying over the fairways, it’s not going to dry up,” Els told the media at Merion. – Sky Sports