As expected, the USGA was unable to complete the second round of the 2013 U.S. Open when darkness fell at Merion and play was called at 8:27 p.m. ET. The U.S. Open has one of the biggest fields all golf season, with 156 players making a loop through the course from sun-up to sun-down. The size of the field combined with the two weather delays on Thursday ensured that the field would not be cut in half by Friday night. The last group out on Friday did not tee off until 5:57 p.m., getting through nine holes and needing a little more than two hours to probably finish up on Saturday.
2013 U.S. Open golf: Tee times, schedule for Saturday at Merion
The USGA will send the players out bright and early again on Saturday morning, hoping to catch up and make the cut well before noon.
With almost 70 players still needing to finish, the USGA will restart the second round at 7:15 a.m., the exact same time the first round restart began on Friday.
Round 2 will resume on Saturday morning at 7:15 am EDT. #usopen
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 15, 2013
Billy Horschel and Phil Mickelson share the clubhouse lead as the only two players in red figures, hanging on to a 1-under, one-shot margin. The player with the best shot to join them is Ian Poulter, the indefatigable Englishman who’s at even-par with four more holes to play. Unfortunately for Poulter, that stretch is part of Merion’s brutal five finishing holes so it’s just as likely, if not more than likely, that he drops a shot as opposed to joining Mickelson and Horschel at 1-under.
With that 7:15 a.m. restart, it’s likely the USGA will make the cut, re-pair the players, and start the third round before 11 a.m. local. USGA Executive Director Mike Davis said on Friday that they would like to send the groups off in twosomes on one tee, particularly on Sunday. A Sunday finish is now likely, given the clear forecast, but they may opt for split-tee threesomes for one more day to ensure they are fully caught up and back on schedule by Saturday night. Stay tuned Saturday morning for your new pairings and tee times.
***UPDATE: The third round with resume at 12:15 p.m., with the USGA sending players off split tees in threesomes. Here is the complete list of pairings and tee times for the third round.
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