U.S. Open golf 2016: First round suspended due to inclement weather

The first round of the 2016 U.S. Open was officially suspended at 4:34 p.m. ET in the midst of the third weather delay of the day. Heavy rain and lightning storms interrupted the round throughout the day, causing more than four and half hours of delay. With poor weather expected throughout the night, officials opted to suspend play for the day.

It didn’t take long for weather to make an impact with a stoppage early in the round. Players briefly got back on the course, but that didn’t last long and play was stopped again. The morning wave of players were able to get some holes in after the second delay, but the weather popped up again. Only nine players of the 156-player field were able to complete their first rounds. A whopping 79 players never even made it to the first tee.

Fortunately, weather for the rest of the week looks clear. While the course will need some time to dry out, there shouldn’t be any delays the next three days if the forecast holds. Whether that is enough time to make up the lost play without a Monday finish remains to be seen.