Westwood climbs as rain hits

There was less luck for a sizeable section of the European contingent as Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey and Luke Donald were among those sent packing with the cut line established at four over par.

Westwood, starting the day at two over par, shot a four-under-par 66 for his second round in the worst conditions of the day as rain poured constantly through the afternoon on Long Island. He joins fellow Englishman Ross Fisher at two under par for the tournament, six shots back on Barnes who earlier in the day carded a five-under-par second-round 65 in the best of the conditions playing back-to-back rounds yesterday and this morning.

"I just went out with the idea of trying to be in front on my side of the draw," Westwood said. "I've managed to do that so I'm delighted."

Barnes, the 2002 US Amateur champion who earned his tour card this year after six years as a professional, leads at eight under, his 132 the lowest 36-hole total in US Open history.

It puts him one ahead of Friday leader Lucas Glover, who posted a six-under-par 64, and another shot in front of first-round leader Mike Weir, the 2003 Masters champion from Canada who added a 70 to his opening 64.

Play was suspended for the day at 7:11pm local time (12:11am BST) after Bethpage Black was hit with a heavy downpour of rain.

Tournament officials had hoped to restart play within half an hour and kept the players in place on the course but the speed with which some of the greens collected surface water made attempts at continuing play futile. The USGA's intention is now to restart the third round on Sunday at 7:30am with 18 of the 60-man field, including tournament leader Barnes, yet to tee off.

England's Oliver Wilson and his USA Ryder Cup rival Hunter Mahan made the most of the time they had out at the start of their third rounds. Mansfield golfer Wilson opened with consecutive birdies and rebounded from a double bogey at the third with a birdie at the fourth, while Texan Mahan birdied the second, both of them moving to one under par.

Both Woods and Phil Mickelson parred their opening holes before the hooter sounded.