Surprise leader Barnes soaking it all in
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. - The US Open that doesn’t feel like a US Open continued yesterday at Bethpage Black, complete with scoring records, partial rounds, 7:22 p.m. tee times, and more Doppler radar shots than the evening newscast.
Wetpage, Bathpage, call it what you want. It’s been bizarre from the beginning, when rain interrupted play Thursday after only three hours. They’ve been swimming upstream ever since, it seems.
For the most part, the weather cooperated yesterday, providing more than 11 hours of play and allowing everyone to finish 36 holes so the two-round cut could be made. But then the skies opened up again as 7 p.m. approached, and play was suspended for the day at 7:16 because of more rain, which is starting to resemble an uninvited party guest, unaware that a request has been made, kindly asking it to leave. Or more appropriately, since we’re in New York, “Get outta here already, would ya?!’’
Outside the ropes, the grounds resemble a muddy Slip ’n Slide. Inside the ropes, the frequent rain has turned Bethpage Black into a soft, spongy dartboard.
How strange has it been? There’s seemingly been more press conferences with US Golf Association officials talking about squeegees and contingency plans, than players discussing birdies and bogeys. When Al Roker becomes a featured part of NBC’s golf telecast, you know it’s an unusual Open.
That includes the top of the leaderboard. Ricky Barnes, a PGA Tour rookie who has spent most of his time on the Nationwide Tour, moved into the lead after 36 holes with a second-round 65. His 8-under total of 132 is the lowest for the first two rounds in US Open history.
“It’s pretty cool. Obviously, at the beginning of the week you didn’t think that score was out there,’’ said Barnes, who won the 2002 US Amateur but has struggled to live up to the potential that goes with such an accomplishment. “It was solid play. I’m happy with the position.’’
Barnes, despite being born and raised in California and attending the University of Arizona, has connections to Boston. His father, Bruce, was a 12th-round draft pick of the Patriots in 1973, and punted for the team the next two seasons. Barnes also lists Larry Bird as his hero.
He was plenty heroic himself yesterday, making five birdies and no bogeys, and through 36 holes has hit 31 greens, tops in the field. Such impeccable ball-striking has allowed Barnes to take a one-stroke lead over Lucas Glover, who matched the course record with a second-round 64. Mike Weir, the first-round leader with a 64, was another shot back at 6 under after shooting an even-par 70.
The 60 players who made the cut - the smallest number possible - are scheduled to resume play today at 7:30 a.m., with USGA officials hopeful that the weather will allow for the final two rounds to be played. The forecast isn’t good, though, with a 70 percent chance of rain.
Neither Barnes nor Glover has won a major championship; Weir won the 2003 Masters and has seven other PGA Tour victories, the last coming in 2007.
“It’s been a lot of starting and stopping this week. It’s been a test of patience,’’ said Weir. “It’s difficult for everybody.’’
The conditions have been a beast, but the course has been benign. There were 32 scores under 70 in the second round, up from 13 in the first round.
“The greens are still holding, mid-irons, long irons,’’ said Glover, whose putt for 63 to tie the lowest score in US Open history was left short. “It’s still very soft. Get in the fairways, birdies to be had.’’
David Duval (second-round 70), Peter Hanson (71), and Azuma Yano (65) were tied for fourth at 3 under, with Lee Westwood (66) leading the group at 2 under. Phil Mickelson was at 1 under, and played one hole of his third round before play was suspended.
Tiger Woods also played one hole of his third round, but was sent off the back nine, his 3-over total after two rounds leaving him 11 shots off the lead and in a tie for 41st. If Woods were to somehow find a way to win, he would match the record set by Lou Graham, who trailed by 11 shots after two rounds and came back to capture the 1975 US Open in a playoff.
Barnes, Glover, Weir, and the rest of the leaders never started their third rounds, and might be asked to pack 36 holes into the final day, the way the US Open used to be contested. Those Opens never featured meteorologists in such a prominent role, however.
Michael Whitmer can be reached at mwhitmer@globe.com 
