Rory McIlroy gets to watch Northern Ireland beat Ukraine as weather disrupts US Open

Only half of the 156 players were able to start their opening round and just nine finished as a series of thunderstorms disrupted play at Oakmont before play was abandoned shortly after 4.30pm local time, with torrential rain bringing warnings of flash flooding in the area.

World number 624 Andrew Landry was three under par and facing a 10-foot birdie putt on his final hole when the siren sounded for the final time, leaving amateur Scottie Scheffler as the leader in the clubhouse after a one-under-par 69.

Westwood was one under par with five holes to play with stablemate Matt Fitzpatrick, Ireland’s Shane Lowry and Scotland’s Russell Knox level par, but McIlroy was four over in his bid for a second US Open title.

The Northern Irishman at least had the consolation of seeing his country beat Ukraine in the European Championships after Westwood had enjoyed England’s victory over Wales.

After beginning his first round from the 10th, Westwood had followed a birdie on the 12th with a bogey on the 13th before holing out from 124 yards for an eagle on the par-four 14th.

Play was then suspended for the first time shortly after 10am, with Westwood and playing partners Luke Donald and Martin Kaymer on the 16th green.

That left the Ryder Cup team-mates with a short walk across the 17th fairway to the media centre, where they took shelter from the rain and watched the action unfold in Lens.

“We managed to watch the second half of the England game in the first delay which was good and then nearly all of the Northern Ireland game and then the Germany v Poland game just now,” Westwood said.

McIlroy, Danny Willett and Rickie Fowler were on the ninth fairway when the second suspension occurred and McIlroy took advantage by sprinting to the clubhouse to catch the remainder of Northern Ireland’s game.

And just as Niall McGinn’s stoppage-time goal secured a 2-0 win, tournament officials announced that the range had opened ahead of a second resumption.

This time the players were allowed time to warm up beforehand, having unusually been denied the chance do so after the initial stoppage.

Masters champion Willett was among those unhappy with the decision, writing on Twitter: “Find it odd that we stay in position for an hour, then might have to go straight back out.. Not great for the old body!!!”