The U.S. Open had been a little more than 30 minutes in when Mother Nature threw her first curveball of the week, forcing play to be suspended over the dense fog that descended over eastern Long Island.
Several groups had teed off at Shinnecock Hills, which included New York native James Nicholas, when United States Golf Association officials sounded the horn to stop play at 7:05 a.m.
Golfers were held on the course for 15 minutes before they were brought off, signifying a lengthy delay ahead.
Play did resume at 9:05 a.m., equating to a two-hour delay and pushing back tee times two hours for the first round of the U.S. Open.
The elements were always going to be a factor during the first day of the tournament, with USGA officials anticipating sustained winds of 12-24 mph, along with gusts from 24-36 mph.
“When we start to talk about numbers in the mid-30s, that becomes problematic in a number of ways. Golf balls just staying still on the putting green,” USGA chief championship officer John Bodenhamer said Wednesday. “Some of the models that we’re working … show winds reaching as high as over 40 miles per hour. We hope that doesn’t happen. We’re preparing for all that we can.”
Rain has also been forecasted throughout the day Thursday, along with potential thunderstorms.
The U.S. Open is back at Shinnecock Hills for the first time since 2018, when Brooks Koepka won the tournament.
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