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The weather-hit US Open is likely to require at least a fifth day's play after heavy overnight rain at an already soaked Bethpage Black delayed the scheduled start on Sunday.

Organisers said play, which had been due to commence at 07:30 local time (12:30 UK time) on Sunday, would not be possible until at least 12:00 (17:00).

With the third round of the year's second major still far from being completed, that will almost certainly mean a Monday finish at the earliest.

More than six inches of rain has been dumped on Bethpage Black since the start of this month with three-quarters of an inch saturating the hilly par-70 layout overnight.

Although conditions were dry early on Sunday morning, the course was unplayable and further showers are expected for the rest of the day and for all of next week on Long Island.

America's Ricky Barnes led at the half-way stage after shooting 67-65 to break the 36-hole scoring record - but the leader had not begun his third round when heavy rain forced the end of play on Saturday.

The top contenders were yet to get under way for their third rounds at Bethpage when torrential rain began to fall on the already-saturated course, causing almost immediate flooding throughout and rendering the course completely unplayable.

England's Oliver Wilson had got off to a good start to his third round with three birdies in his first four holes, but with none of the top-10 on the leaderboard having started the championship remains wide open.

Earlier in the day England's Lee Westwood - who braved the worst of the conditions at the rain-hit tournament - shot a second-round 66 to get firmly in to contention at two under, but world number one Tiger Woods failed to capitalise on Saturday's good scoring conditions and finished at three over par.

Barnes resumed play in good conditions on Saturday morning at Bethpage one shot behind compatriot Lucas Glover, but added three more birdies in his remaining nine holes to jump into an impressive lead.

Glover too finished well, adding one more birdie on Saturday to complete a bogey-free round of 64 in the ideal scoring conditions that gave him sole position of second place.

First round leader Mike Weir had slipped back on Friday night, but got back into form with three birdies against one bogey after the resumption to complete a level par second round of 70 that leaves him right in contention at six under par in third place.

Weir had a three-shot cushion over the group of fourth-placed players on three under par, among them 2001 Open Champion David Duval, who added a 70 to his opening 67 to suggest that he might finally be coming out of a slump that has lasted almost a decade.

Japan's Azuma Yano was alongside Duval at three under after a second-round 65, while Sweden's Peter Hanson - who was in second place behind Weir after the first round - shot a 71 to stay in the hunt.

Westwood's brilliant 66 pulled him right up the leaderboard into a five-way tie for seventh place with Sean O'Hair, 2004 Open champion Todd Hamilton, England's Ross Fisher and amateur Nick Taylor, who shot a stunning 65 that included seven birdies.

Westwood's round could have been even better, however, as the Worksop man peppered the flag throughout the day but missed several birdie putts from short or medium range - though in fairness he holed several monsters, including a 40-footer down the green on the par-3 8th.

England's Fisher got in the hunt after rounds of 70 and 68 got him into the two under par group, while world number two Phil Mickelson was one shot further back in a tie for 12th.

Just behind them Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott and Englishman Wilson were among the players in at level par at the half-way stage, who will still consider themselves right in the hunt in the unpredictable conditions likely to prevail over the weekend.

There was slight disappointment for Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who enjoyed the best of the conditions in his first US Open, but was unable to capitalise and finished two over par.at the half-way stage.

Similarly disappointing was England's Ian Poulter, who started brightly with a birdie on Saturday before five bogeys saw him slump to four over par - and only just make the cut.

World number Woods was one shot better off, but even more disappointed despite shooting a one-under-par 69 that took him to three over par.

Woods's driving and iron play were good, but he struggled to master greens that had been rendered bumpy and inconsistent by the appalling weather.

Play will resume at 12.30pm UK time on Sunday - join us then for LIVE comments.

Toby Keel / Eurosport / Reuters