Stormy weather may rain on Scott parade
ADAM Scott’s quest to win back-toback golf major championships could be stalled by the weather, with a severe thunderstorm threatening to interrupt the opening round of the US Open.
Heavy rain and wind is forecast going into the first round, which could prevent players from completing their rounds today.
United States Golf Association executive director Mike Davis is confident the short Merion course will still hold up against the world’s best players, even with soft conditions.
But more than 165mm of rain has already hit the course in the lead up.
‘‘It’s not a big (weather) system so the only question is whether we get lucky and not get the worst of it or if we are unlucky,’’ Davis said.
If the first round is not completed today it could make play difficult for those who must complete round one tomorrow, leaving the afternoon wave at a potential disadvantage.
Scott, paired with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, is scheduled to tee off in the afternoon.
Scott is vying to be the first Australian to win back-to-back majors and just the second Australian to win two different majors.
Geoff Ogilvy, Mathew Goggin, Alistair Presnell, Marc Leishman, John Senden and Marcus Fraser are all in the afternoon wave.
Only Jason Day and Aaron Baddeley are due off in the morning.
‘‘I just have to take it as it is and wake up and prepare like I would any other day and just be patient,’’ Scott said.
‘‘Not only do I have to be patient on the course but I’ll have to be patient off the course this week too.
‘‘I just want to play golf, I feel like I’m ready to play.
It’s time to get the head switched on for four hard days, I feel like I’ve got it in me, now I just want to get started.’’
Having played in the wet conditions early in the week, Scott concentrated on the warmer, slightly firmer conditions yesterday, trying to imagine weekend play.
‘‘It was good today to go back out and confirm all the lines I’ve worked on and just see the conditions slightly different with the firm and soft parts,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s the first time I’ve played it with any warmth in the air as it’s been such heavy bad weather.
‘‘I can see how the ball flies a little further and now have an understanding if I face that tomorrow or over the week.’’
Twenty-nine-year-old Marc Leishman tees it up at Merion Golf Club for the US Open keen to continue his rise on the world stage.
Leishman has taken a huge chunk of confidence and belief out of not just his Masters result, but how it was fashioned as he was up in contention throughout.
‘‘It was important for me to know all the work I’ve done over the last 10 or 12 years on my swing has worked and can hold up under the pressure,’’ he said.
His US Open pairing for the first two rounds, fellow Australians John Senden and Marcus Fraser, has also buoyed Leishman.
‘‘It’s important to have as relaxed a group as a US Open can be,’’ he said.