Severe Weather Halts Play at 125th U.S. Open Finale
Drama unfolded during the final round of the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club on Sunday when severe weather forced a lengthy suspension of play. Heavy rain and dangerous conditions brought the championship round to a halt for 1 hour and 36 minutes, interrupting the battle for major glory at the historic Pennsylvania venue.
Play was officially suspended at 4:01 p.m. ET after a sudden deluge of rain intensified rapidly, overwhelming the already challenging Oakmont course.
The Horn Sounds: Play Stops Amidst Downpour
The suspension occurred as the final pairing, featuring Sam Burns and Adam Scott, was preparing to tee off on the 8th hole – a daunting 301-yard par 3, notably the longest par 3 in U.S. Open history. The sound of the horn signaled that dangerous weather, including detected electricity in certain areas, had made the course unplayable.
USGA officials initially instructed players to remain in place, suggesting hopes for a brief delay. However, as torrential downpours continued and standing water pooled on greens and fairways, players were eventually brought off the course and taken to the clubhouse. Before play could resume, they were allowed time on the practice range to warm up.
Leaderboard Snapshot When Play Halted
At the moment of the suspension, Sam Burns, the 54-hole leader, held a one-shot advantage at 2 under par overall, with 11 holes left to play. However, the final round had proved challenging for Burns, who was 2 over par through his first seven holes for the day.
Veteran Adam Scott, at 44 years old and aiming to become the second-oldest U.S. Open champion, was in solo second at 1 under par overall, also sitting at 2 over for his round through seven holes. Further back, Tyrrell Hatton and Viktor Hovland were tied at 1 over par overall, having completed eight holes. Other notable players included Carlos Ortiz and J.J. Spaun at 2 over par.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler found himself much further down the leaderboard. Starting the day at 4 over par, he was 5 over par for his round through 11 holes, placing him seven shots behind the lead. Historical context suggests the difficulty of Scheffler’s task; the largest final-round comeback in U.S. Open history is seven shots (Arnold Palmer, 1960), and the largest at Oakmont specifically is six shots (Johnny Miller, 1973). Jon Rahm, who finished his round earlier, carded a strong 67 to finish at +4 for the tournament.
Oakmont’s Challenge Amplified by Conditions
Oakmont, widely regarded as one of the most difficult courses in golf, was already playing tough. Described as “arduous” and “treacherous,” the course had been made particularly receptive by what was noted as one of the wettest months in recent memory, including rain on Friday night and Saturday. The sudden heavy rain on Sunday pushed conditions “over the limit,” creating visible streams down the cambered fairways and making undulating greens unplayable. This inherent difficulty, combined with the weather, contributed to high scoring; no player in the last 17 groups was under par for their final round before the strongest winds and rain moved in.
Race to Finish Before Dark
With play officially resuming at 5:37 p.m. ET, officials were hopeful of completing the final round before sunset, scheduled for 8:52 p.m. ET. However, Doppler radar indicated that weather systems remained in the area, leaving an outside chance of another suspension. Such a development could potentially push the conclusion of the 125th U.S. Open to Monday.
