U.S. Open Drama: Final Round Play Suspended at Oakmont Country Club

OAKMONT, Pa. – The final round of the 125th U.S. Open faced a delay on Sunday due to heavy rain that led to standing water on the fairways and greens at Oakmont Country Club.

Play was halted just as Sam Burns and Adam Scott were about to tee off on the eighth hole, the longest par 3 in U.S. Open history at 301 yards. The USGA called it "dangerous weather," leading to a suspension lasting 1 hour and 39 minutes.

When play resumed at 5:37 p.m. ET, the hope was to finish before dark. At that moment, Burns was leading with a score of 2 under par, aiming for his first major title. Unfortunately, he had yet to make a birdie after seven holes and was 2 over for the day.

Scott, at 44 years old, was just a shot behind Burns. He was looking to become the second-oldest champion in U.S. Open history. Meanwhile, Tyrrell Hatton and Viktor Hovland trailed by three strokes. Former PGA champion Scottie Scheffler was 1 over for the day after 11 holes, needing to make a strong comeback to stay in contention.

This year, Oakmont has been particularly wet, with up to 8 inches of rain recorded in May alone. The recent downpours contributed to severe conditions, making the course tricky. As afternoon storms were predicted, wind gusts of up to 20 mph also added to the challenge.

The delay didn’t just stop the players; spectators and fans also took to social media to express their reactions. Many shared images of the heavy rains and commented on how the weather was affecting the players’ performance. Some fans noted that the last round scoring had become increasingly tough, with no players from the last 17 groups finishing under par by the time the winds picked up.

Interestingly, past U.S. Opens have seen similar weather challenges. For example, in 1990, a heavy rainstorm led to a three-day event instead of the usual four, highlighting how unpredictable conditions can influence major golf tournaments.

Overall, as the crowds watched and waited, everyone wondered how the players would adapt after the long delay and if Burns could maintain his lead.

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