Saturday's weather forecast improving at Bethpage Black

By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- What had been a dire weather forecast for the weekend appears to have moderated somewhat, which is great news for the 109th U.S. Open.

According to the National Weather Service, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon on Saturday with accumulations of between .25 and .50 of an inch. Previous forecasts had put the probability at 80 percent and the rain was to start by mid-morning.

The chance of precipitation on Saturday night, though, increases to 80 percent and could be heavy at times with a possible accumlation of between a three-quarters to an inch. The possibility of rain in the overnight hours is 80 percent.  

Those showers are expected to continue Sunday until 2 p.m. and there is a 60 percent chance of rain on Father's Day. The likelihood of rain on Monday, though, has dropped to just 30 percent.

Players will return to complete the second round on Saturday at 7:30 a.m. Players who would have been in the afternoon wave of the second round will then tee off between 9-11:12 a.m. ET.

The field will be cut to the low 60s and ties and anyone within 10 shots of the lead after the completion of the second round, hopefully on Saturday.

USGA officals will then make a decision about the rest of play -- whether there will be a two-tee start, etc. -- once the cut has been determined and they know the number of players remaining for the final two rounds.