Brilliant Weir leads US Open after delayed first round (1st Lead)

Farmingdale, New York - Canadian Mike Weir fired a brilliant 6-under-par 64 to lead the US Open after the rain-delayed first round at Bethpage, New York, on Friday. The left-hander picked up eight birdies and only a double-bogey at the 6th cost him what would have been a US Open course record, leaving him on 6-under-par, two shots clear of the field. After the deluge of day one, when 78 players were unable to even start their rounds, Weir took advantage of the benign conditions and soft greens to shoot a superb 64. 'It was a big advantage to miss the weather yesterday,' Weir said. 'All of us on this side of the draw got a good break. 'It was one of those days I wanted to take advantage. I wanted to keep the pedal down.' American Ricky Barnes and Sweden's Soren Hanson were two shots back on 4-under, while former Open champion David Duval rolled back the years with an excellent 67 to be 3-under. Graeme McDowell was the next best-placed European on 1-under, the same score as Phil Mickelson. Tiger Woods began the defence of his title with a battling 4-over- par 74, but was left to rue the four closing holes as he lost his way from level par through 14. Woods and playing partner Angel Cabrera, the Masters champion, finished tied, while Open and US PGA champion Padraig Harrington birdied the last but finished with a 76, 6 over par. 'I was even-par with four to go,' Woods said. 'I mean, it's not like I was hitting it all over the place. I was hitting a lot of good shots. Unfortunately, I just didn't finish off the round the way I needed to.'