US OPEN ESSENTIALS
Welcome to Sportsmail's live coverage of the US Open.
Merion hasn't hosted America's national championship for 32 years but the world's best players are back at the Philadelphia track where wicker baskets are used instead of flags and the clubhouse almost sits on top of the first tee.
US OPEN ICONS
Use our icons to keep up with the action. We've got an eagle, a tiger and a birdie that goes 'tweet'. Scroll to the foot of the article for a full key.
Tiger Woods, aiming for a 15th major triumph but first since winning this tournament at Torrey Pines in 2008, starts as the bookies' favourite and plays with Rory McIlroy and Masters champion Adam Scott on Thursday and Friday.
Stick with us and we'll take you through all four days as our full live service brings you the latest news, all the best pictures and live scores.
And if you want to get in touch to let us know what you think, use the comments section at the bottom of the page or email: brian.lee@dailymail.co.uk
PLAY HAS BEEN SUSPENDED DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER
3.37pm: No word on the official announcement. We've been hanging about this long so we can wait a bit longer.
The mood is brightening along with the skies though and spectators are making their way back on to the course.
No players as yet but fingers crossed.
3.20pm: Official update from the USGA due at 3.30pm.
3.10pm: If they do manage to get back out today - and the mood has changed in the last 15 minutes with the storm not quite as terrible as predicted - there will be no picking and placing. Expect a few mud balls as the players won't be allowed to clean them.
2.50pm: Good news - rain isn't as heavy as it was.
Bad news - it was so heavy just a little while ago, some of the greens are already under water.
It's all guesswork at the moment but the likely scenario if we are done for the day would be to play Thursday's round on Friday, the second round on Saturday and 36 holes on Sunday.
As soon as we know, you'll know.
2.31pm: Sportsmail's Derek Lawrenson says: 'Not looking good, folks. Nothing official yet but the assistant greens superintendent, speaking to a few reporters at the back of the media centre, has just uttered the dreaded words: "I think we’re done for the day."
Alastair Bruce-Ball from BBC Radio Five Live stayed back at the media hotel, so he could report from there in case communications at the course went down. Guess what? Communications at the hotel have just gone down.
2.28pm: Ian Poulter must be the most frustrated man at Merion - forced off just when he was building up a head of steam. But he's back on Twitter, saying: 'Me & my mate Tiger chilling in the house whilst this storms comes thru.'
We'll post the picture of Poults and Tiger in a few moments.
2.20pm: Our man at Merion has been on to clear a couple of things up. He says: 'Some confusion over the reception for Sergio Garcia on his first hole.
'Some people are reporting a lone spectator booing, but I have to say it sounded more like a ‘whoop’ to me.
'What was more impressive were how many spectators had made it to the 11th tee for 7-44am to watch. Bear in mind for fans this involved a car journey from wherever they lived to a designated park and ride area, followed by a shuttle, and then a good 30 minute walk across the course.
'Quite a few journos made it too, which might be even more impressive. Over the opening holes, the reception for Garcia was overwhelmingly cordial, which might have something to do with the fact it’s hard to get a few beers down your neck by 7-44am, and also at that hour it was a gallery of serious golfers only.
'At the 13th, rather ironically after all the talk in the build-up, Garcia got perhaps the biggest cheer of the morning when his tee shot finished no more than six inches away.’
2.05pm: Just a reminder PLAY HAS BEEN SUSPENDED and the news is not good. The storm starting to hit Merion (the thunder has clapped) is expected to be followed by an ever bigger one. The forecast is for winds of around 60mph.
1.50pm: So just under two hours of play before the weather hit and the hooter sounded.
There's a comedy called It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I beg to differ. It's worth a watch though if you haven't checked it out.
As far as this storm goes, we'll keep you updated as soon as we find out more.
1.40pm: Graeme McDowell, the 2010 champion at Pebble Beach, is another one tipped for big things this week with two wins already in 2013 - The Heritage and Volvo World Match Play - and he was due off just after 6pm tonight with Jim Furyk and Zach Johnson. McDowell tweeted: 'Could be a very long day. Looks like a large storm.'
1.36pm: PLAY HAS BEEN SUSPENDED
1.35: He's not hanging around. That's three in a row for Poults - the short 13th is taking a pounding today - and the lead on his own. Poulter missed cuts at The Masters, Players, Wentworth, lost two out of two at the Volvo World Match Play to suffer an early exit in Bulgaria and was 51st in Memphis last time out. But he's playing like a man possessed.
1.32pm: Poulter's certainly racing this storm and trying to get the good stuff in before the weather turns. The Englishman follows a birdie at 11 with another at 12 to join the leaders while Charl Schwartzel and Charley Hoffman have also gatecrashed the two-under party.
1.30pm: Just one lone voice booed Garcia at his opening hole - the 11th - and was drowned out by cheers of encouragement for the Ryder Cup star. We'll see if it lasts. Sergio dropped a shot but was back on terms after a birdie at 13.
1.15pm: Hey Mr Tambellini. Two sixes on the bounce for Roger at the fourth and fifth and he drops another three shots to sit on four over. But Tim Clark is heading in the opposite direction and sits beside Colsaerts on two under after birdies at 12 and 13.
1.07pm: Mickelson isn't over par for long as a birdie-two at the short 13th takes him back to level and Poulter's off to a flyer with a birdie on 11.
1pm: We're expecting a weather update just shortly but there's talk of some kind of evacuation plan for spectators. Call me a pessimist... but that doesn't sound too good. More as soon as we have it.
12.52pm: Colsaerts birdies 13 and 14 and hits the front on his own. The Belgian is making just his second appearance at the US Open after finishing in a tie for seventh last year. Colsaerts had some fun in the sun in Bulgaria just a couple of weeks ago, almost having to hit a shot from a toilet cubicle after a wayward drive at Thracian Cliffs. He'll need to keep his aim straight here to stay at the head of the queue.
12.50pm: No more on Poulter's gloomy weather forecast just yet and he's about to tee off . His group follows Stewart Cink, Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia. The crowds are sure to have it in for Garcia following his spat with Tiger and the infamous 'fried chicken' remark.
But he knows what to expect. The noisy Americans gave him pelters in 2009 at Bethpage Black. 'Hit it, waggle boy,' was the cry as he kept gripping and regripping over shots.
12.45pm: Yip? Nope! Ryan's propping up the leaderboard after a bogey at the third takes him to three over.12.38pm: The shortest hole on the course - the 115-yard 13th - causes bomber Bubba problems and he bogeys to go back to level par.
But Dustin Johnson, Nicolas Colsaerts, Justin Rose and 2009 champion Lucas Glover are in the red figures after fast starts.
Who can keep it going and lay down a marker before Tiger goes on the prowl? Woods is out at 6.14pm with Rory McIlroy and Masters star Adam Scott. Email in your thoughts.
12.23pm: Big Phil's never won this - he's been second or joint-second five times. Not a great start as he makes bogey at the 11th.
Our man at Merion Derek Lawrenson says: 'Clearly, that unique preparation of flying 6,000 miles to California and back on the eve of the tournament to attend his daughter’s primary school graduation hasn’t paid dividends at the start.'
12.15pm: Sweden's Rikard Kalberg also sneaked in as an alternate at the start of the week and he's made the most of his opportunity with a birdie at the first. He's joined by Bubba as good ol' boy birdies his opener.
And Phil Mickelson's on the course. Steve Stricker, Keegan Bradley and Lefty followed Bubba's group off the 11th.
12pm: That 1,000/1 could be pushed out pretty soon as Canadian Yip posts a double-bogey six at the first.
Roger Tambellini matches him but it's a steady start for his fellow journeyman Cliff Kresge who makes par.
11.45am: So, back to the man with the unfortunate surname. Mr Yip squeezed into the tournament as an alternate on Monday and reached the last eight of the US Amateur at Merion in 2005. He's 1,000/1 with most bookies.
11.30am: Three boomers make up the first group off the 11th tee at 12pm. Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson and Nicolas Colsaerts can hit it miles. But there's not much need for that at Merion and it will be interesting to see how the big-hitters get on.
11.15am: Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the US Open.
11.15am: Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the US Open.
Cliff Kresge, Roger Tambellini, Ryan Yip (terrible name for a professional golfer) are due to get us going at 11.45 and the plan is to take you through to the end of today's play.
But we're now crossing our fingers and hoping the weather behaves. Heavy rain has made parts of the course look like Glastonbury and Ian Poulter - due off from the 11th tee at 12.55pm (BST) with American due Boo Weekley and Jason Dufner - isn't very confident.
The Englishman was on Twitter in the past hour (he loves a tweet) saying: 'Morning world do I dare look out the window to check the weather..... I just checked no rain, but radar looks horrific from 9am. This is one really nasty looking storm that will hit at 9am and last the entire day. Not much golf…'
And here's the picture...
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