Harrington relieved to escape drowning

Padraig Harrington was thanking the weather gods for saving his US Open chances.

The Dubliner was four over par after six holes and battling not to leak another shot on the seventh when play was suspended due to flooding at Bethpage Black.

Tied for 62nd place when the hooter sounded, Harrington said: “If you've started badly, you're delighted to be going off the golf course. I'm starting a new round of golf tomorrow and it doesn't look like this round was going in a very nice direction for me.

“I'm on the back foot, so the best thing for me is to come back fresh tomorrow. I know it's going to be early. It's a new start but for me, I've still got 66 holes of this tournament to go.

"It's all about momentum in the bad weather but starting with a three-putt and then dropping a shot from nowhere, all of a sudden I'm two‑over par and I have played quite well and I'm trying to figure out, how am I going to get back in this; how am I going to make some birdies and recover.”

USGA officials insist that they will play 72 holes, which means the championship could drag on until Monday or Tuesday.

Harrington joked: "We'll get this tournament done. And I guarantee you they will have a US Open Champion at the end of this week; well, at some stage in the next week.

"Somebody is going to be happy and somebody is going to be a winner, and the best player is probably going to win. We'll wait and see."

Graeme McDowell was just one over par after seven holes of his first round and two strokes adrift of early leaders Jeff Brehaut, Johan Edfors, Andrew Parr and Ryan Spears.

Tiger Woods was one over with Angel Cabrera on level.