Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
The defining images of the 109th US Open will be of umbrellas, waterproofs and a team of intrepid green-keepers fighting diligently against the elements to keep the Bethpage Black Course fit for tournament play.
This week I was planning to write a tournament review, applauding the new champion after triumphing over one of the toughest tests in world golf.
Instead, with only three hour's of play possible on the first day and with further rain interruptions throughout, the tournament could not get back on track.
At the time of writing they are heading in to a Monday finish, the first one in regulation play since Larry Nelson won at Oakmont in 1983. It is conceivable that it won't even finish on Monday should there be further delays and the mandatory 18 hole playoff is required - a Tuesday finish, which is unheard of, could be on the cards.
The fourth round of the weather-delayed championship finally got under way late on Sunday. A bogey at the first hole of the final round by Ricky Barnes means he and Lucas Glover held a five shot lead over the chasing pack when play resumed on Monday morning.
Barnes, a US amateur champion in 2002 and one of the most colourful characters on the Tour, has had a slow start to his professional career. In his seventh year as a pro and having spent the past few years on the minor tours, he is finally starting to fulfil his early promise in his first year on the main PGA Tour. But ranked 588th in the world, he is without doubt a surprise leader.
The stars were mostly in attendance, with Phil Mickelson in particular well positioned to make a charge. Even the great Tiger, after a poor week with the putter was still in touch.
The horrendous conditions made for a difficult week for everyone. The players' caddies really earn their money at times like that, in all manner of ways. On the course they do a superb job keeping the clubs, and specifically the grips clean and dry. The caddies are still out walking the course before their man's tee time to see the flag positions so as to give the most accurate information possible to the players. Of the course as well they have a key role to play, keeping their charges engaged and focused whilst they wait in the locker room for a break in the weather.
Potential winners, however, are only focused on one thing, and that is collecting the trophy and a major championship. The rain, the delays, the soggy ground, nothing else matters.
Hopefully it will have reached a conclusion by the time I sit down to write next week's column.
At a much drier Formby Golf Club in England, Italian 16-year-old Matteo Manassero made history when he became the youngest winner of the British amateur title on Saturday. Manassero beat England's Sam Hutsby 4&3 in the 36-hole final of the event which was celebrating its 124th edition. At 16 years and two months, he easily surpassed the previous youngest winner of 18 years and one month.
He becomes the first Itlalian to win the event and joins such illustrious names as Sergio Garcia (1998), Jose Maria Olazabal (1984) and Graeme Storm (1999) to have won the British amateur title while Colin Montgomerie lost to Olazabal at Formby.
Manassero will now accept invitations to both the Open Championship at Turnberry next month as well as the 2010 Masters at Augusta. Not bad for a few days on the links! His is a name to look out for in the future no doubt.
