US Open Final Round Faces Delay Due to Severe Weather

The cherished tradition of the US Open ending on Father’s Day might face a disruption after play was halted due to severe weather conditions. Just as Sam Burns and Adam Scott were ready to begin their play on the 301-yard, par-3 eighth hole shortly after 4 p.m. ET, the warning horn sounded, pausing the game. The Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was hit by heavy rain as ominous clouds changed course, engulfing the golf course.

Concerns are growing that the final round may be pushed to Monday, rather than concluding on Sunday. With the sunset at Oakmont scheduled for 8:52 p.m. ET, the leaders have 11 holes remaining—equivalent to about two-and-a-half hours of game time. Play resumed around 5:40 p.m. ET.

Radar indicates more rain might loom over Oakmont Country Club. The grounds crew is actively working to clear water from the fairways and greens. Footage from Oakmont’s media center showed areas on the course with pools of standing water.

The weather chaos left thousands seeking shelter, with many getting soaked in the absence of umbrellas or raincoats as they hurried to find cover. Those trailing Scott and Burns faced the greatest challenges, being a fair distance from accessible areas like concessions and covered zones.

This interruption comes at an unfortunate time as Burns and Scott were engaged in a gripping battle. The early holes of the final round tested the leaders, with Scott bogeying the first hole and Burns doing the same on the second. Scott bogeyed the challenging third but recovered with a birdie on the fourth.

Burns slipped again a hole later, recording his second bogey. Scott briefly leveled the score when he nailed his par putt. The 44-year-old Scott, a sentimental favorite among fans, seeks his second major title more than ten years after his 2013 Masters victory.

Scott moved through the course with assurance, following a 3-under-par 67 on Saturday that secured his spot in the final group—marking only his third time in a major’s final pairing. However, his frustration showed when a birdie putt stopped well short on the par-3 sixth hole, leading to a missed par putt that dropped him from the lead after Burns managed his par.

Threatening skies loomed over much of Scott and Burns’ round. When reaching the No. 7 tee, they encountered a brief shower of large raindrops. Both made neat pars, with Scott narrowly missing a birdie.

As they approached the No. 8 tee, the rain intensified. Burns hesitated before his drive on the 301-yard par 3 just as the rain began steadily pouring. Shortly after, the horn signaled a sudden stop to the national championship.

Approaching the restart, crews busily worked to remove standing water and keep the bunkers from flooding. The players returned to warm up on the driving range around 5 p.m. ET, eager to complete this challenging tournament on time.