Weather delay halts Rory McIlroy’s momentum after poor start at US Open

When the horn blew, suspending play at 10:04 a.m. local time during Thursday’s opening round of the US Open, it was a mixed bag for Rory McIlroy.

The four-time major winner got off to a sluggish start on the sodden grounds of Oakmont after more than an inch of rain that fell overnight softened the conditions on the otherwise brutally hard track. After two straight bogeys on holes two and three, though, McIlroy was coming off a birdie on No. 4 when dangerous weather forced players and caddies off the course.

Longtime golf analyst Peter Jacobsen was somewhat surprised by McIlroy’s slow start but believed he would bounce back. After all, said the Lexus pitchman, Rory is facing the same endurance test everyone else is — rain or shine.

“You’re going to take the bogeys and double-bogeys in stride,” he said, “because everybody’s going to have big numbers out there.”

Course conditions to start were far softer and different than they were during the players’ practice rounds all week. Because of the sogginess, the maintenance crew had only mowed and rolled the greens once and left the roughs as they were on Wednesday night, according to Golf Channel.

And though the rain should have made the fairways and greens more receptive, that was not necessarily the case. As McIlroy kicked off his round at 8:24 a.m., Golf Channel reported that those already on the course were hitting just 56 percent of fairways and 54 percent of greens.

While Oakmont, despite the watering, maintained plenty of the bite expected from the toughest test in golf, the downpours probably had most impact on the greens. Golf Channel reported that the speed on the putting surfaces had been reduced by up to two feet from what players expected.

Other players cooling their jets included Jordan Spieth, who was 1-under after four, and McIlroy’s playing partners, Masters champion Danny Willett (1-over through five) and Rickie Fowler. Fowler, still seeking his first major, was 2-over through six, with a double-bogey 6 on the par-4 third, and a bogey on No. 5.

McIlroy may be roaring to get back out to a course that suits his game more than the rock-hard conditions expected this week. He bombed and gouged his way to his four major titles on soft, receptive tracks, so look out for Rory comin’.

At least he should not have long to wait. The weather system was moving through quickly and play was expected to get back underway shortly after 11 a.m.