USGA arrives at a compromise on tickets (Update)

Acknowledging flaws in the Open ticket policy, USGA executive director David Fay announced just now that Thursday tickets will be honored on Monday should the Open extend into a fifth day.

(__Update, 2:24 p.m.:__The USGA now says it will give spectators a 50 percent refund to their Thursday ticket if there is no golf on Monday).

The good news for those fans is they may have a chance to see the climactic final round at the Black. The bad news is they will only get it if the rain, as predicted, washes out more play this weekend.

Speaking of which, an update on the Open schedule according to Jim Hyler, chairman of the competition committee: Barring further interruption today, the first round will conclude around 5:30 this afternoon, with the "morning" wave of the second round scheduled to start at 4 p.m.

The forecast for tomorrow is still grim: an 80 percent chance of rain, with anywhere from 3/4 to 1 1/4 inch of rain possible. Should that be the case, Hyler admitted the completion of the second round is unlikely by Saturday, which means we'll definitely be back on Monday.

But as Hyler said, "Beyond that, anything would be pure speculation."

-- Sam Weinman