Lee Westwood recorded a birdie-birdie finish to put himself right into early contention as the weather-interrupted first round of the US Open at Oakmont Country Club got back under way on Friday.
Storms in the Pittsburgh area meant three hours and 45 minutes had already been lost before play was ended at 3.51pm on Thursday, with just nine players able to finish their first rounds.
Torrential rain continued to batter the course overnight and when the players resumed on the rain softened layout at 7.30am, it was possible to make a move.
American Andrew Landry strode back out to the ninth green to stand over a ten-foot birdie putt and he rolled it in to register an opening 66, the lowest first round in US Open history at Oakmont.
That broke the record held by Gary Player and Ben Hogan and Westwood was soon to join them with birdies on the eighth and ninth handing him a 67 and second place all on his own at three under.
Shane Lowry also made two birdies in the morning on the 14th and 17th to get to two under, a shot clear of New Zealander Danny Lee and Americans Bubba Watson, Kevin Streelman and amateur Scottie Scheffler.
The second wave of first round starters from Thursday had teed off from 8.00am and Frenchman Gary Stal was making the big early move with two birdies in his first three holes.
Westwood has two top threes at the US Open and showed his class as he put his tee-shot to 12 feet on the huge par three eighth and then his approach to five feet on the ninth.
"I've certainly got plenty of experience and have been in these situations before," he said. "You can't do much about rain delays, you've just got to grin and bear it and while away the time and the hours and try and stay focused when you do get to playing.
You have to do everything well round Oakmont, it tests every aspect of your game to the limit. It's one of the the great US Open golf courses. It suits everybody - Lee Westwood
"You've got to hit the fairways and that gives you a chance to hit it on the greens but they are very undulating and you have to pick your shots where you want to hit it."
The eighth can play at 300 yards but it was 258 in round one and Westwood was glad that the green was so receptive.
"It was just a nice three iron, pitched in a nice spot," he said. "That would have been through the green in a practice round but the greens are holding and it left me behind the hole. I put a nice stroke on it and it went in. The greens are still quick."
Lowry birdied the 14th but then needed two clutch putts to save par before putting his approach to five feet on the 17th.
Scot Russell Knox signed for a 70 to sit at level par, a shot clear of French duo Grégory Bourdy and Romain Wattel.
Defending champion Jordan Spieth was at two over, with 2014 champion Martin Kaymer and Matthew Fitzpatrick a shot further back.
Masters Tournament winner Danny Willett was then at five over, two shots clear of 2011 champion Rory McIlroy.
