US Open chiefs are facing a major headache after fog delays meant a third of the field failed to complete their first rounds at Shinnecock Hills on Thursday.

Play was delayed for a full two hours first thing on Thursday with the consequence that only 100 of the 156 golfers were able to complete their loop before time was called for bad light at 8.25pm. 

Those still on the course included 2023 champion Wyndham Clark, who was four clear on six under par with two holes to play.

Clark made the most of the winds calming in the afternoon. Speaking at the end of play on Thursday, he said: ‘Everything was kind of clicking. 

‘We were definitely fortunate with the wind laying down. Overall a good round.’

Matt Fitzpatrick, who took the title in 2022, was at two under through 16, tied with the resurgent Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm, with both men yet to finish their rounds. Bryson DeChambeau, playing alongside Fitzpatrick, was one shot further behind.

Fog delays have caused chaos on the first day of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills

Wyndham Clark has two holes of his first round still to play but already leads by four shots

The backlog will be a huge concern to the US Golf Association amid the forecast of severe winds on Friday and the prospect of rounds drifting close to six hours for a second day in succession.

The clubhouse lead is shared on two under by Sam Stevens, US amateur Ryder Cowan and Max McGreavy. 

Rory McIlroy carded a 69 to sit one under after finishing with back-to-back bogeys in the worst of the weather. 

‘With the conditions today, anything under par or anything around even par is a good score,’ McIlroy said. 

‘It was a day to really just keep yourself in the tournament and not shoot yourself out of it, which is exactly what I did eight years ago here.’ 

Scottie Scheffler saved par from a bunker on the last but sits two over par heading into the second round.