They'll Be Swinging in the Rain

FARMINGDALE, N.Y., June 17 -- Officials from the United States Golf Association were preparing Wednesday for what could be disastrous conditions when the U.S. Open begins Thursday at Bethpage State Park's Black Course, enlisting the help of more than 200 volunteers who may have to squeegee the greens if excess rain builds up.

The USGA, which employs two on-course meteorologists to monitor the weather during Open week, said forecasts call for between a half-inch and an inch of rain Thursday, with winds at 15 mph, gusting to 20 mph.

"If the weather forecast holds true," said Mike Davis, the USGA's senior director of rules and competitions, "it's going to be one of those monumental days that everybody looks back on and says, 'Do you remember Thursday at Bethpage in '09?' "

USGA officials said they have 80 squeegees, and if conditions are particularly bad, they will have volunteers dry the greens even after players hit their approach shots. That, in turn, could slow play, meaning the first round could extend into Friday, when more rain -- albeit not as much -- is forecast.

"If it gets bad enough where we're squeegeeing all day tomorrow," Davis said, "I don't think there's any way we'll finish."

But even if the rain is as bad as expected, the USGA will not allow the 156-player field to "lift, clean and place" the ball, a common practice in such conditions on the PGA Tour. That could mean a tournament that spills into next week, even if there's not a playoff.

"If it's not fair to be playing the ball as it lies, we'll suspend play," said Jim Hyler, the chairman of the USGA's championship committee. "We'll stay here until we get a champion."

Funk to Play, After All

Two weeks ago, Fred Funk left Woodmont Country Club in Rockville thinking he had missed qualifying for the U.S. Open by a shot. But after he had changed clothes to head to an event at the Kennedy Center, the Takoma Park native and former University of Maryland golf coach received a surprising telephone call: He had earned his way into a six-man playoff for four remaining spots. He returned to the course and seized one of the spots.

"When I didn't think I made it, I was really disappointed," Funk said. "Just the competitor in me really wanted to be here. But it turned out to be a great day."

Now, the 53-year-old is here battling his right knee, which is nearly without cartilage. He aggravated it while deep sea fishing Sunday near his home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., and did not play a practice round at Bethpage on Wednesday.

"It felt great for the last three or four weeks, and then I couldn't even play at all without pain," he said. . . .

The USGA announced the Open will return to Oakmont Country Club, outside of Pittsburgh, in 2016, the ninth time the venerable course will host the event -- a record. Oakmont last hosted the tournament in 2007, when Angel Cabrera won his first major, beating Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk by one stroke. . . .

Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark withdrew Wednesday because of an ear infection. Steven Conway, a 27-year-old pro from California, replaced him.