Rose rallies late with 72, stays in front at Masters

USGA officials could no longer put tradition ahead of practical; players applaud the decision.

The storms moved in overnight and kept pounding Erin Hills through the morning, closing the course for some three hours with just two practice days remaining before the U.S. Open. No one was happier than Rory McIlroy. “I wasn’t crying when I saw that rain last night and this morning,” he said Tuesday. “It’s a long golf course, and it’s only going to play longer. That benefits a few guys, and luckily, I’m one of them.” There’s more to it than just length. McIlroy won the first of his four majors in the U.S. Open six years ago at Congressional, a course so softened by rain that he shattered the scoring record (268) and won by eight shots. For someone who grew up in Northern Ireland, he has the