Now the real US Open can begin.
Thursday was the day for surprises: The 50-year-old sharing the lead with the guy who couldn't even break par in a practice round at Shinnecock Hills. Not far behind, a mini-tour hanger-on who almost turned in his clubs a couple of weeks ago -- and the feared ocean wind that wasn't.
Shigeki Maruyama, Jay Haas and David Roesch had the spotlight in the opening round, but all the elements were in place for this tournament to take a more conventional course.
Masters champion Phil Mickelson was right there. So were Ernie Els and Vijay Singh, both positioned to knock Tiger Woods out of the top spot in the world rankings. And it's never wise to count out Woods, determined to break an 0-for-7 slump in the majors.
Mickelson was 2 under with three holes to play when fog engulfed the links-style course, forcing a suspension of play until Friday morning.
Singh also got stopped by the weather, walking off with four holes left and his score at 2 under.
Els, a two-time Open champion, got off to a miserable start -- 3 over through three holes, including a double-bogey at No. 11 (his second hole). But he recovered with some terrific wedge play and a few timely putts and gladly signed for an even-par 70.
Woods needed to save par five times from bunkers -- and once for his only birdie -- in a pedestrian round of 72. It was the fourth straight time he failed to shoot par or better in the first round of a major. And he's never won any tournament when starting out over par.
If that doesn't change, his winless streak in the majors will go to eight after a 7-of-11 run from 1999 to 2002.
No one who got through 18 holes on Thursday played better than Haas and Maruyama.
Two weeks removed a runner-up finish in the Senior PGA Championship, Haas took advantage of a surprisingly calm day.
With birdies at both par 3s on the back nine, he shot a 66 that left him tied for the clubhouse lead with Maruyama.
Haas, whose last victory came in 1993, went back on the course to watch his 22-year-old son, Bill, an amateur qualifier. The youngster was no match for the old man -- 3 over with a hole left.
Maruyama put together a great round before a large crowd -- he played with Woods and Chad Campbell. The Japanese star isn't a fan of the Open, a bit intimidated by the rock-hard greens and high rough.
Angel Cabrera of Argentina also was 4 under through 12 holes when the first round, already delayed by storms in the area, was halted for good because fog made it impossible to see the greens.
David Duval didn't need to see the scoreboard.
Playing for the first time in seven months, the world's former No. 1 was tied for the lead at one point -- the first hole -- but eventually unraveled off the tee. He finished with an 83, matching his worst score as a professional.
Duval wasn't the least bit concerned about his showing. He wasn't tournament tested and only wanted to have some fun.
Some guys wish Thursday had never ended.
Roesch considered giving up golf after failing to qualify for a Nationwide Tour event in Chicago a couple of weeks ago. Then he went out and qualified for the Open, which left him in tears and provided a new sense of purpose.
It showed when he birdied four of his first six holes, and he walked off in a large group at 68.
Kris Cox, a PGA Tour rookie making his first appearance in the US Open, also kept his name on the leaderboard throughout the day, shooting a 68.
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