OAKMONT, Pa. -- Kevin Streelman doesn't think this U.S. Open will boil down to hits the ball the farthest off the tee or highest from the fairway or even putt the best on Oakmont's treacherous greens.
After shooting 1-under 69 in a two-day first round, Streelman said this is a Toughman competition.
"You've got to be mentally tough," he said. "It's the U.S. Open. The toughest guy is going to win."
The reality is that, for the entire field, Thursday's rain threw the rest of this week into turmoil. The original Day 1 morning wave came back on Friday to wrap up their first 18, and, with pace-of-play delays, none of them will have to play a shot in Round 2 when it begins later this afternoon. Streelman and the 77 other early-laters will play their second round on Saturday, then, depending on if they make the cut and where they finish, they'll go out later in the afternoon.
Streelman admitted to some frayed nerves with three stoppages of play on Thursday, but, hearkening back to the toughness angle, he downplayed the impact it'll have his half of the draw.
"It's a little aggravating. It's tiring is, really, what it is -- 24 hours to finish a round of golf," he said. "We're all professional. We've done this many times. It's going to be a long weekend, but we'll get in 72 holes by Sunday."
