Rain at Oakmont means scores won't be as high as many predicted

Blogger’s note: since posted, the report from the USGA is a half-inch of rain. Officials expect slower greens at least Thursday and maybe later in the week.

OAKMONT, Pa. - There may be no prettier sight than all the rain pouring down right now at Oakmont, sight of the U.S. Open.

It’s been an overall consensus that the greens here would be so firm all week, the 5-over par needed by Geoff Olgilvy to win at Winged Foot last year would easily win this tournament.

Rory Sabbatini predicted a winner between eight and ten-over par this afternoon. Butch Harmon, soaking up the attention as the most in-demand pro on the practice tee this week, was predicting plenty of scores in the 90s in the early rounds.

But this rain is coming down hard, at least by how much I can tell by the sound its making hitting the media tent. I feel like I’m back in summer adventure camp but at least with WiFi.

It’s just a scattered thunderstorm, so we’re not talking “63″ conditions here. But it might be just enough for some scores in the red. Unless of course the committee decides to unleash some punishing pin positions to make up for softer surfaces.

All those rain dances performed all week by the field are paying off this evening. It should be enough to soften the course enough to make it manageable tomorrow.

Like they said at the nuclear power plant on the Simpsons once, “Looks like we’ve been able to avert a Chernobyl for a mere Three Mile Island".

Look for those with early tee times to take extra special advantage of the showers.

Among those…Tiger Woods and Olgilvy tee off just after 8 am. Sabbatini and Colin Montgomerie have early times as well.

Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh both tee off after 1 p.m.