Rainy U.S. Open expected

FARMINGDALE, N.Y., June 17 (UPI) -- Tiger Woods will attempt to add to his long list of golfing achievements beginning Thursday with the playing of the first round of the U.S. Open in New York.

Grim weather forecasts, however, cast a pall over the year's second major championship.

The record for most U.S. Open victories is four, an achievement accomplished by Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus. Woods will be trying for his fourth this week at the Bethpage State Park Black Course on Long Island.

Woods will also be after his second consecutive U.S. Open title, something only six players have done since the tournament began in 1895. Curtis Strange was the last to do so -- in 1988 and 1989.

A field of 156 players will be tested by the long, hilly course on which Woods won his second U.S. Open in 2002. The course includes three par-4 holes that measure more than 500 yards.

In addition to Woods, there will be 17 former major championship winners. They include this year's Masters champion Angel Cabrera and last season's player-of-the-year Padraig Harrington. They will be paired with Woods for the first two rounds.

Phil Mickelson will be trying to add a U.S. Open to his two Masters and one PGA crown. This will be his final tournament for the foreseeable future. He will take a leave of absence from competition while his wife undergoes treatment for breast cancer.

The prospects for rain every day through Sunday brings about the chance for major disruption on the tournament schedule. Forecasters called for a 100 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms on Thursday.

"If we can't play it, we'll suspend play," said Jim Hyler, chairman of the USGA's competition committee. "We'll stay here until we get a champion."