News
Thursday, June 18, 2009
First Round Running Updates
Drying The Course
6:45 a.m. - One of our photographers just made a mad dash out of the media center to hopefully capture a helicopter drying fairways. The course is still pretty damp.
Ken
Transportation And Parking Plan Update
10:15 p.m. - Here's an update on parking from our officials.
Due to Thursday’s storm and recent rainfall at the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage State Park, parking lots D, F and R will be closed Friday and for the remainder of the championship.
Because of the closures, championship patrons with parking passes for Lots D and F and volunteers with parking passes for Lot R should proceed to general spectator parking areas at Jones Beach to access complimentary shuttle buses to Bethpage State Park. General spectator shuttles begin at 5:30 a.m. Shuttles for early-shift volunteers are also scheduled.
Gates open at 6 a.m. and starting times are scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m.
Ken
Ticket Information
5:02 p.m. - Here is the decision about the tix:
Thursday tickets will not be refunded or exchanged.
Play will resume Friday at 7:30 a.m., weather permitting. Only Friday tickets will be accepted.
Ken
Ticket Policy
3:49 p.m. - All, I'm afraid I can't comment until I receive an official word. Officials are conversing now. Hopefully I'll know more soon ....
Ken
From A Couple More Players ...
3:47 p.m. - Tiger Woods, one over par through six holes, had this to say: "It was pretty wet and windy. It was a slow day. We had to get in as many hoples as we possibly could, and we played more holes than we thought. I knew it was going to be a tough day and it was.
"It was a good decision to start play. Playing was the right decision."
From Justin Leonard on ever playing in such rainy conditions: "Here in the second round of the 2002 Open. It was similar to this but colder."
From One Player .....
2:57 p.m. - "What they did for those holes was managed what would be unplayable in another situation was certainly fine as we played. There was no particular shot or situation that were difficult, but there was nothing unfair, I would say," said Padraig Harrington. The rest of the interview can be found here.
Notes And Tidbits
2:47 p.m. - The suspension issued was the first weather delay at a U.S. Open since 2004 at Shinnecock Hills.
Excluding playoffs, twice in U.S. Open history has the championship been forced into an extra day of play. Told you the last time it happened below (hint: during the Ronald Reagan years). Can you name the other time it happened? In 1959, at Winged Foot Golf Club. Billy Casper won that year.
Ken
Mud, Mud Everywhere
2:16 p.m. - Outside the ropes, there are pools of water pretty much everywhere you look. That, of course, leads to mud. I watched as spectators went ankle deep in mud in some places.
Ken
Webcast Update
1:51 p.m. - For those wondering about the live Webcast of the marquee groups, that coverage will commence at 7:30 a.m. on Friday with Tiger Woods, Padraig Harrington and Angel Cabrera. Those players were on the seventh green when play was suspended on Thursday.
The scheduled afternoon coverage of Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen will also begin at its new scheduled starting time on Friday at 11:06 a.m.
No More Golf Today
1:49 p.m. - Despite earlier optimism, Thursday's first round has been postponed until Friday at 7:30 a.m. because of the relentless rains pounding the Metropolitan New York area. The decision to postpone came shortly before 2 p.m. by Mike Davis, the USGA's senior director of Rules and Competitons.
For those scheduled to play in the afternoon wave on Thursday, the earliest starting time will now be at 10 a.m. Times will then work off 11-minute intervals from there.
David
More Rain
1:15 p.m. - Mike Davis just came on to say that there is actually more heavy rain on the way. They are going to make a final announcement at 1:45 on whether to continue.
Ken
Weather Update
1 p.m. - Mike Davis just informed us that it will be at least until 2 p.m. before players possibly could get out to the practice range to warm up for a resumption of play today. Heavy rain is still expected over the next 45 minutes, but the good news is there's a window this afternoon when golf should be able to resume. The hope is that the morning wave of 78 competitors can complete round one today, with the afternoon wave, which includes Phil Mickelson, completing the first round on Friday.
Once the rain does stop, Jim Hyler, the chairman of the Championship Committee, said it would take 30 minutes or so to get the course back into playing condition.
David
Tickets And More
12:15 - All, I know the ticket question is being asked a lot here and via my e-mail, but USGA officials are still trying to sort it out. Once I hear more, I will certainly post something. In the meantime, looks like the earliest they can get back on the course is 1:30 p.m., according to Hyler.
Since 5 a.m. we have received more than half an inch of rain. Expectations are to eclipse 2 inches. Reason for delay was that rain was out-pacing squeegees.
While all this is going on - you know, trying to Google how to build an ark - this came in from a reader on the West Coast. Won't name him, but I don't think he'll mind I'm sharing.
"I'm looking out my office window at the Monterey Bay. Foggy but playable."
I had to chuckle. Way to rub that in.
Ken
Another Update
11:54 a.m. - There is standing water on virtually every hole. Jim Hyler of the USGA Championship Committee is updating the media now. Word came over the radio that the worst of the rain is coming through now. However, again, the forecast is gloomy. They may revisit the issue about 1 p.m. Check out the first homepage image of 18. Awaiting word on how much rain we've actually gotten ....
Ken
Time Stamp
11:15 a.m. - Some of you have asked, so therefore you shall receive. Now including time stamps on the posts. Just received another update. Heavy rain is expected until 11:45 a.m. before tapering off. It should subside about 1 p.m., but more rain is expected.
Ken
Trivia Answer
1983 when Larry Nelson won at Oakmont Country Club.
Rain Update
OK, next update will be 11:40 a.m. There is a heavy cell of rain moving through and is set to disperse about 1 p.m. May get a break from the precipitation for about an hour.
Joining the Tiger “Circus”
Playing with Tiger Woods and Angel Cabrera in the marquee grouping being broadcast live this morning, Padraig Harrington is celebrating a bit of an anniversary today. “The first time I played with Tiger was in the last group in 2002 here at Bethpage,” Harrington recalled early this week. “Definitely, the first couple of times you have to get used to, whatever it was, seemed like 50 photographers trying to take a photograph and things like that.”
You’d expect an Irishman to be accustomed to coping with wind and rain, and two major victories last year -- the British Open and PGA Championship – have no doubt seasoned him to other on-course distractions.
“You're on tee boxes waiting to hit your tee shot and you actually have to wait for the photographers to settle or things like that,” said Harrington. “There's no negative about that, you just have to accept it and work with it, and it takes a while to get used to that. I'm too experienced. You become used to it.
“I don't envisage any issues for me this week. I certainly think about it and make sure that I'm ready to expect the bigger crowds and ready to accept whatever goes on with the circus that follows Tiger's matches.”
Through six holes today, Harrington is four over par, with two bogeys and one double bogey. When play was suspended shortly after 10 a.m., the Woods, Harrington and Cabrera grouping was on the seventh green.
Angel Cabrera is even par, with a bogey on No. 1 and a birdie on the par-5 fourth.
The Argentinean sees the silver lining in playing with Woods: “If I hadn't won a U.S. Open and a Masters I wouldn't be playing with Tiger this week,” Cabrera said to laughter at his interview in the U.S. Open Media Center on Tuesday.
“It's great to be able to play with him, to be playing aside the No. 1 player in the world. It's an honor. I wish I could play with him every week.”
Scott
Trivia Time
When was the last time weather forced a U.S. Open past a Sunday? Answer in a bit.
Answer Time
Saw a few questions below from our fellow friends across the Atlantic Ocean. The reason why the Webcast is blocked is because another broadcasting entity there holds the rights to the U.S. Open. This is the reason for the block. It would interfere with the rights that they paid for.
Ken
Suspended
Not kidding, it is coming down. Play has been suspended for a non-threatening situation. Time is 10:15 a.m. EDT. Players have option of completing hole. Players are coming back to the clubhouse. Mike Davis said there will be another update at 10:45. If it's important, we'll update it here.
Ken
Funny
Boo Weekley was asked if he would ever sleep in his car to play a course, and he said no. For fishing or hunting, yes. Golf, no.
Ken
From Jim Hyler
Jim Hyler heads our Championship Committee. He just relayed some info:
Is there a scenario where the round can be washed out and re-started?
"No. We could, but I don’t think so. I think we’ll get the first wave out on the course. The forecast for rain is waves. It’s coming in waves. It rained pretty much the whole time we were doing the setup this morning. Had a little bit of a break and we have a little bit of a break now. Not any severe weather until, perhaps, late this afternoon. I think we are in good shape."
What would cause a suspension?
"Too much water on the greens or on 18, balls hit and embed. Drop for an embedded ball and the closest drop without casual water would be 150 yards or 100 yards back, that will be a problem.
Not worried about bunkers. These bunkers drain incredibly well. Since we’ve been here, and it’s eight days now, we have not seen any issues with the bunkers."
Ugly Out There
Heavier rain is due in 15 minutes. Right now it's steady. The greens are becoming loaded. Tiger Woods had an 12-foot putt for birdie but left it short on No. 4. Padraig Harrington had a golden chance for a par, 4-feet away, but pushed it left. Jeff Brehaut, Michael Sim, Justin Leonard and Andrew Parr are at one under.
Here are the hole locations:
Hole 3 – 216 yards; penultimate teeing ground to back-left hole location.
Hole 5 – back teeing ground used (playing downwind – with the prevailing wind on Thursday out of the south/southeast).
Hole 7 – 489 yards; penultimate teeing ground (36 yards shorter) used due to weather; hole should play with a helping right to left wind. NOTE: the hole location was moved forward 4 paces during the setup due to problems with casual water. The new location is 16 – 6 left (old was 20 – 6 left).
Hole 8 – 163 yards; second teeing ground from forward position used. Tee markers set on extreme right of teeing ground to a hole location on the front-left corner of the green. Water hazard will most definitely be in play given the soft conditions.
Hole 9 – 424 yards; penultimate teeing ground used (41 yards shorter) due to predicted strong south/southeast winds, which should bring the left cross bunker into play for players who try to challenge/carry it (as opposed to playing conservatively up the right side).
Hole 10 – 478 yards (to middle of green); tee marker moved forward 30 yards to penultimate teeing ground due to weather. Hole should play downwind.
Hole 12 – 499 yards; tee markers moved up 5 yards. This will make the carry over the cross bunker approximately 253 yards with a slightly hurting left to right cross wind (out of southeast).
Hole 13 – tee markers set on back teeing ground.
Hole 14 – 159 yards; hole location on right side of green over right bunker - easiest (and birdie) position of 4 days.
Hole 16 – tee markers moved to very front of back teeing ground due to forecasted south/southeast winds.
Hole 17 – 199 yards to right (lower) quadrant of green.
Notes From Mike Davis
Mike Davis, who is responsible for the setup, just sent me this. I would love to take credit and sound all knowing, but alas, I am not.
The following are Round One details on the course setup:
· Green speeds – last night we finally, after 6 days of trying, reached the lower end of our desired range – 14 feet (average of 18 greens).
· All roughs (except fescue) and fairways were mown last night.
· We began to use squeegees to remove water from the putting greens at approximately 7:30 a.m.
Where Have You Been?
Michael Campbell, winner of the 2005 U.S. Open, birdied his first hole - No. 10. We haven't heard much from him . He's tied with Ryuji Imada and Andres Romero.
Funny quote: a reporter just asked Rory Sabbatini what he keeps in his bag. He responded by saying, "A collection of knives, because you never know what kind of wild life you'll encounter on the golf course."
Poor Rickie Fowler. The amateur is four over through six holes.
Ken
In Response
Scottko, saw your message below. The running updates are from a variety of resources. We have reporters and photographers on the course sending back updates, Twittering feeds, live video and we're also relying on radio transmissions. So we're trying to be as close to live running updates as we possibly can be. Thanks for the question.
Ken
Official Word On Weather
Just received word about play -
First round play started as scheduled at 7 a.m. this morning. We are expecting the weather conditions to be problematic throughout the day, but play will continue as long as course conditions allow. Two conditions that could force a suspension of play include the presence of casual water on putting surfaces or in bunkers that would render them unplayable. Dangerous weather conditions would also force a suspension of play.
The weather forecast calls for three waves of heavier precipitation throughout the day, with intermittent periods with little or no precipitation. It is hoped that these intermittent periods will provide some relief to the course.
Ken
Early Leads
Tiger Woods saved par from a greenside bunker on No. 1. Padraig Harrington three-putted. Looks like he's out of it. Not serious, of course. Two players - Drew Weaver, Vijay Singh - have the early lead at one under par. The course is looking very wet, but playable.
Ken
Rain, Rain
For the players, the U.S. Open is all about “playing the percentages” – which risks to take, when to play it safe.
Today, the percentages that the players, and spectators, are playing as the national championship gets underway are those found on weather.com’s hour-by-hour weather trend for Farmingdale, N.Y., home to Bethpage State Park. And those numbers don’t look good: at 8 a.m., there’s a 75 percent chance of precipitation; at 9 a.m., 85 percent. The forecast numbers drop to 70 percent by 10 a.m. and 75 percent by 11 a.m., then top out at 95 percent at noon. The odds of rain stay above 50 percent throughout the afternoon, then reach 100 percent for the 6 p.m. forecast.
At the moment, the real number is arguably higher than 100 percent if you factor in the water splashing up from the accumulating puddles across Bethpage Black.
As any golfer with an advance tee time will tell you, any weather forecast below a 50 percent prediction of rain is a go (but pack your rain gear). Percentages above 75 percent? Start thinking about a rain check.
There are no rain checks at the U.S. Open. Just gut checks.
Aptly, among the competitors teeing off shortly after the high-noon forecast for today is Scott Gutchewski, playing in the 12:41 grouping with Gary Woodland and Canada’s Nick Taylor. The 12:30 grouping features Matt Bettencourt, Japan’s Kaname Yokoo and James Kamte, a three-time winner on South Africa’s Sunshine Tour. For more about Kamte, click here.
Scott Smith, USGA
Maintenance Crew Out
The work crew is out squeegeeing the course. Such a tough word to write - squeegeeing. In any event, they are still playing as of 7:56 a.m. EDT. Official word is that they will continue to play as long as the course conditions can take it.
Ken
First Ball
On an overcast, gloomy and now wet morning on Long Island, the U.S. Open officially got underway Thursday at Bethpage State Park. You could say it was a black day on the Black.
About 10 minutes before the USGA’s Ron Read – affectionately known by some at the Association as the “Voice of the Open” – welcomed the estimated 500 brave-hearted spectators gathered around the first tee the expected precipitation began falling at a steady rate.
Umbrellas began popping open. Even the official scorer in the group covered his paperwork with plastic to protect the contents from getting soaked. And judging by the skies, it looks like it’s going to be like this the entire day.
At 6:59, Read, wearing staff-issued rain gear, announced that a record 9,086 entries were accepted for this year’s championship, with 156 advancing to Bethpage following local and sectional qualifying (75 golfers were fully exempt).
Then it was time to announce the first competitor, amateur Rickie Fowler from Murrieta, Calif., and a junior-to-be at Oklahoma State University. The 2007 USA Walker Cup member sent his drive into the left rough. Casey Wittenberg, who spent a year at Oklahoma State before turning pro, followed along with another past OSU golfer, Bo Van Pelt. Wittenberg found the left fairway and Van Pelt reached the corner of the dogleg-right hole.
With that, the three golfers strolled down the big hill toward their golf balls, making way for the second grouping at 7:10 a.m. By the way, the first group parred their first hole.
David Shefter, USGA
Up And At 'Em
Farmingdale, N.Y. - Good morning everyone. For those of you who live in the Metro New York area, you're probably waking up to a wet one. It's absolutely pouring here at Bethpage Black. However, play has gone on as scheduled. Maintenance crew has begun rolling the fairways.
Over the duration of the championship, we'll be providing live updates here. If, for anyone reason, you have any questions or comments, feel free to e-mail me at kklavon@usga.org.
Ken Klavon, Editor of Digital Media
USGA
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