Dustin Johnson leads US Open 2016 after day 2
Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
The 2016 U.S. Open heads to the weekend, but it isn"t moving day just yet. Thanks to a derailed first round on Thursday due to the weather, the field is still playing catch up. The players made up a lot of ground on Friday with a long day of golf, but it will be another long day on Saturday if the tournament is going to be back on track by Sunday.
Roughly a quarter of the field is through 36 holes while half of the 156-player field has yet to even begin the second round. That will happen early Saturday morning with players teeing off in groups of three starting at 7 a.m. The hope is for a quick turnaround after the completion of the second round. The field will be cut to the top 60 players plus ties, then the third round will commence. The weather forecast calls for a clear and warm day which should allow for another long day. Players played until nearly 9 p.m. ET on Friday before darkness set in.
The long day of golf also comes with a long day of television coverage. Fox will increase its coverage considerably and will now broadcast live for 13.5 hours. That"s an increase of more than five hours. Television coverage was originally scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., but will instead begin at 7:30 a.m. shortly after players step onto the course. The coverage will run until 9 p.m. or whenever the round ends. With the extra coverage, viewers will be able to watch nearly every remaining shot in the second round and the entire third round live as it happens. If all goes well and the pace of play keeps up, the field will complete the third round on Saturday and allow a traditional final round on Sunday.
The final group is scheduled to tee off at 9:12 a.m. and if all goes well, the third round could begin sometime around 2 p.m. In order to make up for some lost time, the tournament will send the third-round pairings off in groups of three rather than the usual twosomes in the third round.
Dustin Johnson and Andrew Landry will open Saturday tied for the lead. Johnson, however, has the benefit of having already completed his second round. Johnson was among the final groups to finish the second round on Friday before play was suspended. Now, he will be able to rest in the morning before likely teeing off in one of the final groups of the third round while many other contenders will need to play upward of 36 holes.
In addition to the television coverage. there will also be additional coverage via three live streams. Fox Sports Go and USOpen.com will provide two featured group streams and a featured holes stream. The featured holes stream will focus on Nos. 3, 13 and 17. Fox Sports Go will also provide a live simulcast stream of the television coverage.
Here is a complete look at the coverage on Saturday. All times Eastern.
Saturday"s third-round coverageTelevision:7:30 to 11 a.m. -- Fox Sports 1
11 a.m. to 8 p.m. -- FOX
8 to 9 p.m. -- Fox Sports 1
4 to 8 p.m. -- FOX Deportes
Online streams:USOpen.com
7:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. -- Featured holesstream, Nos. 3, 13, and 17
8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. -- Featured groups stream
FOX Sports Go
7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. -- TVsimulcaststream
7:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. -- Featured holesstream, Nos. 3, 13, and 17
8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. -- Featured groups stream
Radio:Noon to 7 p.m. -- PGA Tour Radio on Sirius-XM (Ch. 93/208)
Source: http://www.sbnation.com/golf/2016/6/18/11967866/2016-us-open-tv-coverage-saturday-round-3
