Ian Poulter is the leader with play delayed at U.S. Open. (AP)
ARDMORE, Pa.—The U.S. Open got 111 minutes old before it came to its first halt.
On Thursday morning, the onrushing “derecho” storm chased players and fans off Merion Golf Club’s East Course at 8:36 a.m. The storm brought with it the dangers of lightning, hail, and inches of rain that could inundate the historic golf course with more flooding. From Friday to Monday, the course was doused with five total inches of rain.
But spotting an opening in the weather, the USGA resumed play at 12:10 p.m. Every tee time was pushed back 3 hours and 34 minutes, meaning the super-group of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott will not tee off until 4:48 p.m. And that’s only if there are no more weather delays. Unfortunately, following this slight gap is another storm, presumed to be nastier than the first wave.
For Monday’s practice round, they had to close hole No. 11 because of a creek that flooded, and that is one of the two holes that play is starting on, along with No. 1. With any significant amount of rain, that flooding is likely to happen again.
With 19 groups and 57 players having started their rounds, Englishman Ian Poulter was in the lead at 3-under. He had birdied his first three holes, Nos. 11, 12 and 13. He was followed at 2-under by Nicolas Colsaerts, Charles Schwartzel, Tim Clark and Charley Hoffman
bcyrgalis@nypost.com