Attacking the Black

The sun is out, Bethpage Black is drying off, and scores are going low. Mike Weir and Peter Hanson currently share the US Open lead at 4-under, with Camilo Villegas a shot back and a handful of players, including Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott, two shots back.

The eight best scores right now are all owned by players who never set foot on the course yesterday, when rain affected play and forced a suspension after three hours. It's obvious that those who were scheduled to go off Thursday morning earned the more difficult side of the draw, because conditions now are ideal. It's still wet, with balls not rolling very far in the fairway, but there's birdies out there. Weir has made four through 10 holes, Hanson four through 12.

Michael Welch of Quincy has played six holes (he started on No. 10) and is 2-over.