Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., watches his putt on the 17th green during the first round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship at Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., on Friday. (Morry Gash/Associated Press)
Canada's Mike Weir shot a career-best 64 at Bethpage in the opening round of the U.S. Open on Friday, where he leads the field at 6-under.
The lefty from Brights Grove, Ont., finished the day one shot off the best round in U.S. Open history.
Weir nearly matched that mark, but missed the green on the par-4 15th hole, and three-putted for a double bogey.
It was his lone error of the day and even with it, Weir was at 4-under and still tied for the lead. He followed that up with a pair of birdies to finish the day at 6-under.
Peter Hanson was second at -4 and Americans David Duval and Todd Hamilton finished the day at -3.
Tiger Woods swung away on the 18th tee Friday morning, watched his ball fly into a bunker on the way to another bogey, and turned away in disgust.
Little came easily for the world's No. 1 player after resuming the rain-delayed U.S. Open.
Woods gave back four shots over his final four holes to finish his opening round at 4-over 74, five shots behind a group that included amateur Drew Weaver, the former Virginia Tech player who posted a 1-under 69 in what's already the third major of his career.
"I was even par with four to go," Woods said. "I mean, it's not like I was hitting it all over the place. I was hitting a lot of good shots. Unfortunately, I just didn't finish off the round the way I needed to."
Reigning major champions struggle
So unlike what happened on his last trip to Bethpage in 2002, this U.S. Open won't be a wire-to-wire victory for Woods.
Minutes after Woods finished, Mickelson вЂ" a favourite of the Bethpage gallery, especially after the news that his wife, Amy, is about to begin treatment for breast cancer вЂ" began his U.S. Open on the 10th tee, with the gallery stretching nearly the length of a football field down the fairway.
Mickelson's quest opened with a drive well off the fairway, and drew an ovation anyway.
Among other early finishers of the first round: Jeff Brehaut and Ian Poulter were at even par, Justin Leonard вЂ" who started Friday with two quick birdies вЂ" finished 1 over, Vijay Singh and Jim Furyk were 2 over, and Steve Stricker and Geoff Ogilvy were among those at 3 over.
It wasn't a good day to be a reigning major champion. Playing alongside Woods, Masters champ Angel Cabrera finished 4 over, and that was still two shots better than British Open and PGA Championship winner Padraig Harrington.
Plans called for the first round to be completed late Friday afternoon, with the second round starting and continuing until dark. Ideally, the second round would be finished to establish the cut by day's end Saturday, although the forecast seems to suggest that's doubtful.
More rain expected Saturday
Woods' side of the field will not start its second round until Saturday, when more rain is expected to pound the waterlogged course. The U.S. Open hasn't had a 72-hole Monday finish since 1983, but any significant interruption in play over the coming days would likely ensure that no champion will be crowned on Sunday.
With another inch or more possible Saturday, the USGA is already bracing for a Monday finish.
And yes, Tuesday has even been discussed.
"That's possible," USGA executive director David Fay said.
