Huber Blog: Stroke victim Parr savors magical birdie start

TNT's Emmy Award-winning essayist Jim Huber is in Farmingdale, N.Y., for the 109th U.S. Open, and each day he will report on what he saw, heard and felt at Bethpage Black. This is his third edition.

By Jim Huber, Special to PGA.com

FARMINGDALE, NY -- It said so right there on the scoreboard. Parr was under par. There is a player named Andrew Parr who started this first round of the U.S. Open with a birdie so ...

What a story he would make should he continue to play well. Former Canadian Tour player who suffered a stroke two years ago that partially paralyzed his right side. His best friend, Kevin Blue, is on his bag so Blue and Parr are on the move.

REMEMBER MUIRFIELD?: Can anyone say Muirfield 2002? With the white hay that lines many of the Bethpage fairways and the rain blowing sideways, the resemblance must drive fear even through the heart of Tiger Woods. Remember, it was there seven years ago, after his victory in Augusta and here at Bethpage Black, that Tiger's run at immortality was dashed with that abysmal third-round 81.

MOST WILL WAIT TODAY: Though it rained here in '02 during the second round, play was never halted. This time around, however, the course was already saturated when the heavy rains returned again Thursday, rendering the course unplayable. The horn sounded this morning at 10:15 eastern with 78 of the 155 on the course. Radar indicates number 79 will be awhile.

STILL A CHANCE FOR MORE PLAY TODAY: The USGA is optimistic, if nothing else. With the heaviest of storms pounding the media center's roof over his head, Jim Hyler, the chairman of the championship committee here indicated it was possible for a window of four to five hours of "un-rain" could allow most of the players to at least get in some play in today's first round.

But even if this magic window of weather comes calling today -- and you can't see out of that window here at Bethpage right now -- they still won't be able to possibly get through two rounds of play by Friday night.

NO "LIFT, CLEAN AND PLACE": As always, even when play is resumed, there will be no such thing as "lift, clean and place" as the PGA Tour allows. The USGA has never believed in such a custom and its only concession to the conditions will be to squeegee the standing water from a player's putting line ... and 3 feet beyond.

NO KIDDING: There is a road that separates Bethpage Black. It is called Round Swamp Road. You can't make this stuff up.

THANK MOTHER NATURE: Amazingly -- and this goes a long way toward explaining how stubborn and efficient the USGA can be -- there have only been two times in the history of the Open where weather has forced the championship into an extra day.  And only once with a full field. In 1983 at Oakmont, a storm struck with five holes left on Sunday afternoon, forcing the remaining players on the course to come back on Monday. Larry Nelson won that over Tom Watson.

And in 1959, back in the days when the Open was 72 holes over three days, storms on Saturday forced the final 18 to be played on Sunday as Billy Casper beat Bob Rosburg by a shot.

This is the 109th Open and we may be facing only the second weather-related Monday finish in that century.

Jim Huber is an Emmy Award-winning announcer with TNT. Check back during the 109th U.S. Open for more of his insights and observations from Bethpage Black.

The views and opinions expressed here do not reflect those of PGA.com, PGATOUR.com Turner Sports or The PGA of America.