Sports: After rain, day two promises a softer course

After rain, day two promises a softer course

By BOB HARIG

TULSA, Okla. -- After three days of hot, humid conditions, the weather changed Thursday for the first round of the tournament at Southern Hills Country Club. Gone was the oppressive heat. But hovering all day was the threat of stormy weather.

A storm came midafternoon and did not stop, leaving officials scrambling to get the first round completed this morning. Only 66 players finished play.

"Obviously, everything is going to be softer," said Tom Meeks, the U.S. Golf Association's director of rules and competitions. "If the golf course is not playable, if there's casual water everywhere, we may have to delay round two. But we put together a program that we think is realistic."

The plan is to resume the first round at 7 a.m., with the second round to get under way at 9 a.m.

The players won't be able to lift, clean and place their balls in the fairway. The practice is common at water-logged PGA Tour events but not at the U.S. Open.

"If the only way we can play is lift, clean and place, we won't play," Meeks said.

HOW LOCALS LOOK: Of the Tampa Bay area players in the field, only Bradenton's Paul Azinger completed his round, shooting 4-over-par 74. Clearwater's John Huston is 5 over through 14 holes. Tampa's Gary Koch is 2 over through 13. And New Port Richey's Tim Petrovic is 2 over through 13.

NICKLAUS' NEW ROLE: Jack Nicklaus missed his first U.S. Open in 45 years, his first coming in 1957 as an amateur. But he was at Southern Hills along with his wife, Barbara, to watch son Gary compete in his second Open.

"We understand what we are this week," the elder Nicklaus said. "We're parents following our son. That's basically what we are, and that's what we should be."

Nicklaus, who won a record-tying four Opens, watched Gary bogey his last five holes and shoot 78.

"I don't know whether he lost his patience or what, but those are typical U.S. Open problems," he said. "It's a tough, tough tournament, and that's why I think it's probably the best one."

WATERLOGGED: Germany's Bernhard Langer was tied for the first-round lead with Hale Irwin, looking to go lower. Then a tree got in his way. At the par-5 13th, Langer had a 4-iron to reach the green in two shots. But his approach clipped the top of a tree and splashed into the water. He made 7.

"I had a 7 on a hole where I could have taken a 4," said Langer, who bogeyed two more holes to shoot 71. "That's a huge change, but there's nothing I can do about it now."

LUCKY NO. 8: Joey Maxon is making the most of his first U.S. Open. On seven previous occasions, Maxon tried unsuccessfully to qualify.

"I've been trying since I was a junior in high school," said Maxon, 25, who lives in Columbia, S.C., and plays on the Hooters minitour.

Maxon qualified in Atlanta, where he shot 8-under 136 in the 36-hole qualifier. Through 14 holes, he is 1 over.

MISC.: England's Philip Price had enough. With three straight bogeys before play was suspended, he was 7 over through 14 holes. He withdrew. ... The USGA announced sites for future championships. Pumpkin Ridge near Portland, Ore., will hostthe 2006 U.S. Open. The 2006 U.S. Amateur will go to Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minn. ... South Africa's Retief Goosen, tied with Irwin for the lead, had no problem leaving the course. He was once struck by lightning. ... The University of Florida has the most alumni in the field, seven, including Koch.