How much more rain is coming for U.S. Open on weekend at Oakmont?

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OAKMONT, Pa. — The story of this U.S. Open isn’t simply how hard Oakmont is playing, it’s how hard it’s playing considering the course has been fighting Mother Nature all spring.

After a very wet spring and early week downpours, another 25mm of rain fell overnight from Friday to Saturday. There is another 25mm potential forecast foe Saturday afternoon and Sunday, although thunderstorms could bring isolated heavier activity.

At any other major championship venue, there would be worry from organizers, media, and club members that a wet golf course would be caught with its pants down and get humiliated by the world’s best players.

Yet, here at Oakmont, it’s the golf course humbling the players despite Mother Nature apparently being paid off by the golfers. After 36 holes, just three of the 156 players in the field were under par.

“We’re all playing the same course, and it’s going to be hard,” Xander Schauffele said. “You may think something’s unfair, but it doesn’t really matter at the end of the day. Whoever can sort of deal with it the best is going to play well. That’s the attitude I’ve had: Look at it as a fun challenge versus feeling like you’re living in a nightmare.”

The tournament offered the folliwing update on Saturday:

“Current models indicate spotty showers and a few thunderstorms could develop throughout the afternoon thanks to the area of low pressure in the Ohio Valley. The hope is that we can settle into some gaps on the radar this afternoon, but like yesterday there will be some unfortunate spots that get heavier rains again today.”

“Conditions overall look less active on Sunday with the primary rain chances holding off until the afternoon hours, however the exact timing and location development remains less than certain.”

It’s rained heavily all month. Before the tournament week even arrived, USGA boss Mike Whan was warning media heading to the Pennsylvania golf course to bring rubber boots.

“Bring boots! 13 (inches) of rain in past 10 weeks.”

(UPDATE: Nobody brought boots.)

A sunny Wednesday, and a calm, rain-free Thursday likely had the Jaws theme song going through players’ heads, but conditions never got anywhere near the limit over the first 36 holes on Oakmont’s notoriously insane greens.

“It was starting to look like another day of hot, dry weather and the weekend would be very difficult out here,” Adam Scott said on Friday. “There were certain greens that had a slickness about them and a firmness too. Fairways even getting a little bit like that. So the rain might keep it under control, hopefully, and spare us some frustrations.”

Another serious downpour arrived Friday night, the USGA made the unusual decision to proactively offer refunds for any fans deciding not to show up to watch the third round of the U.S. Open. Quite a fan-friendly gesture, and as TSN’s Bob Weeks pointed out on social media, a clear sign that if you are coming you might not want to wear your white golf pants.

Early Saturday, a wonderful camera angle showed Rory McIlroy hitting a fairway wood in Round 3 following another night of downpours at the famously difficult golf course. After impact there is an explosion of grass and mud and water as his club tears easily through the waterlogged turf.

The forecast calls for rain most of the day Saturday and Sunday.

What does it mean for the U.S. Open? Will weekend rain bring the water that breaks the dam on Oakmont’s ability to punish golfers? Don’t bet on it.