U.S. Women’s Open field battling wet conditions

BIRMINGHAM, ALA. » Inbee Park’s 12th U.S. Women’s Open already stands out for a gloomy reason: the rain-soaked course at Shoal Creek.

The picturesque course in suburban Birmingham had been drenched by nearly five inches of rain this week as of Wednesday afternoon, with the effects of Subtropical Storm Alberto adding onto earlier rains.

“This is probably the wettest conditions I have ever seen in a U.S. Women’s Open,” said Park, a Korean who won in 2008 and 2013. “We just don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Practice rounds were canceled Tuesday and the course closed, other than some late-afternoon trips to the driving range. More rain followed overnight and into Wednesday on the eve of the major championship, when the course finally reopened by early afternoon in time for some of the 156 players to get in practice.

The field will be cut to the low 60 scorers and ties after two rounds.

John Bodenhamer, USGA’s senior managing director, said officials didn’t plan to use lift, clean and place for the first time in one of the organization’s championships.

“It remains our intention to play 72 holes and play the ball as it lies,” Bodenhamer said Wednesday.

The LPGA Tour’s Kingsmill Championship two weeks ago was shortened to 54 holes by rain.