A picture really does say a thousand words! (Eileen Bliss/USA Today Sports)

A month ago, Merion desperately needed some hot, 80-something degree days to firm up the track for U.S. Open-esque conditions, but going with the theme of the season, Mother Nature keeps spoiling the fun in the sun. The U.S. Open didn’t exactly get off to the best start on Monday.

The horn blew before 6am and play was delayed until 11am, and then it was intermittently suspended throughout the day, meaning players haven’t had the most ideal of practice rounds (if you follow any on Twitter, then you’ve gotten a pretty accurate glimpse of the morbidity of things).  (continue reading…)

The 11th hole at Merion is prone to flooding

Remnants of Tropical Storm Andrea battered Merion Golf Club, this year’s historical host venue, with 3½ inches of rain on Friday. The course was closed on Saturday as USGA officials scrambled to get the course in shape with less than a week before the major championship begins on Thursday.

The 11th and 12th holes on Merion’s East course are susceptible to flooding, especially the 11th, which is apparently rebuilt every few years after storms like yesterday’s pummel it, but fear not – USGA executive director Mike Davis has really thought of everything. (continue reading…)

Mike Davis, the USGA set-up man for US Open courses and the director of rules and operations since 2005, was promoted as the organization’s new executive director, replacing David Fay, who stepped down after 21 years at the end of 2010, according to Golf Digest. Davis will take on his new responsibilities immediately. He’s the seventh executive director in the USGA’s 116-year history.

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