A U.S. Open at Torrey Pines elicits special feelings—Dan Hicks called Tiger Woods’ victory in 2008 the No. 1 sporting event he’s ever called. If only this year’s U.S. Open is on the same stratosphere, we’re in for another treat in La Jolla, Calif.
(Scroll down for the latest updates)
Two competitors who figure to have a say in that: Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau, who have grabbed most of the headlines over the past month. We won’t get a Bryson/Brooks pairing on Thursday or Friday—but maybe they’ll play their way into a featured pairing on the weekend. We can only hope.
And here are the latest updates from Torrey Pines (most recent updates at the top):
10:27 a.m.: We expected to be starting at 10:30 a.m. (7:30 a.m. Pacific), but the USGA has added another 15 minutes of delay with the fog lingering over the golf course. Now we’re at a full hour delay.
The Peacock coverage is showing the group on the 10th hole—Pope, Kennedy and Aiken—who are now awkwardly lingering out by the 10th tee. Now they’re heading back to the courtesy cars. It doesn’t seem like we’re going to be ready to play for a little bit still.
10:10 a.m.: OK, the fog is finally lifting—so it seems like our weather delay will be 45 minutes. The 6:45 a.m. (Pacific time) tee times will be off at 7:30 a.m. Those groups:
Off the first tee: Sahith Theegala, Chino Hills, Calif.; Edoardo Molinari, Italy; Greyson Sigg, Augusta, Ga.
At the 10th hole: Andy Pope, Glen Ellyn, Ill.; Brad Kennedy, Australia; Thomas Aiken, South Africa
9:58 a.m.: Oh boy, the weather delay has been extended to 45 minutes. This marine layer is no joke. We love Southern California, but this fog means we have to hear the Golf Channel crew extend their pre-tournament preview content. We’re ready to watch actual golf now.
By the way, this is the first fog delay at a U.S. Open since the 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. We remember the fog delaying play in 2000 at Pebble Beach before Tiger lapped the field.
9:45 a.m.: Well, the first groups were supposed to be teeing off at Torrey Pines’ first and 10th holes right now. But Mother Nature had other plans. A marine layer has engulfed Torrey Pines at the moment—so we are in a delay. Mike Davis just joined the Peacock broadcast to say there will be a 30-minute delay at the least.
The outgoing CEO acknowledged this likely means all players won’t finish their first rounds on Thursday, but the weather forecast does look good for the rest of the week. We just need this fog to chill.
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