SOUTHAMPTON, New York, June 18 (Reuters) - Play resumed at the U.S. Open on Thursday after a thick blanket of fog forced a two-hour delay early in the first round of the major at Shinnecock Hills.
A handful of players had gotten through only the second hole after taking off at eye-wateringly early tee times when organisers suspended play at 7:05 a.m. ET at the venerated course in Southampton, New York.
The event kicked off as a line of standstill traffic held up ticketholders in the fashionable beach town, with American Scottie Scheffler eyeing history, on the hunt for a career Grand Slam.
The 156-player field this week includes 12 former U.S. Open champions and 49 debutants.
The U.S. Open is known as the toughest test in golf and the par-70 layout at Shinnecock Hills, which is hosting the event for asixth time, is expected to uphold that reputation this week.
When Shinnecock Hills last hosted the U.S. Open in 2018,the field scoring was 74.65, which is the highest scoring average relative to par for the tournament over the last 18 years.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in Southampton, New York, additional reporting by Frank Pingue; Editing by Toby Chopra)
