Fog causes postponement of play 30 minutes into US Open first round

Thickening fog caused a postponement just 30 minutes into the first round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills on Thursday.

Forecasted high winds were expected to be the issue later in the day but the real issue was visibility.

The first group starting on the back nine reached the par-five 12th to be faced with such a thick blanket of fog they could not see the fairway and, after some consultation with officials, play was paused with players on the course initially held in place for 15 minutes before being called back a further 15 minutes later.

Masters champion Rory McIlroy appeared to have got the better half of Thursday’s draw given the expected winds later, alongside Ryder Cup team-mates Tommy Fleetwood and Ludvig Aberg.

It was the same for world number one Scottie Scheffler, making his first attempt at securing the career grand slam which McIlroy completed last year.

But the prospects did not look so bright for the likes of newly-crowned US PGA champion Aaron Rai and English compatriot Justin Rose, twice US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau or 2021 winner Jon Rahm, who were all due to start at a time when the wind gusts were predicted to be up to strong.

Organizers, concerned about the prospect of balls being blown off the super-fast greens at the Long Island, New York venue, have already taken measures to reduce any potential impact.

They are slowing the pace of the putting surfaces and decided to syringe the greens with water in a short gap between the morning and afternoon starters.

Evidence of how difficult the course was playing was evidenced by the fact half of the 12 players out were already over par and no-one had registered a birdie.