US Open - Saturday tee times ...

[Mike Benham]

The last group goes off at 3:50 PM PDT and sunset is 8:29 PM PDT.  TV coverage is set to conclude at 8:00 PM PDT.

According to John VB's blog http://freedrop.wordpress.com/, the time set for the first two rounds was 4:34 (with threesomes) and his group on day 1 was +40 minutes to that time set.

So with two-somes, perhaps the time set is a bit faster but with windy weather projected and the challenging set-up, the USGA might be gambling a bit to assume that the last group will finish before TV coverage ends ... or mother nature intervenes ...

[Kevin_Reilly]

the USGA might be gambling a bit to assume that the last group will finish before TV coverage ends

That would be a legitimate concern if there were any NBC Saturday night programming, but there isn't.  So no gamble here.

[John Moore II]

Yeah, they will not cut short the third round of the US Open. That just won't happen, it never has. If I remember correctly, the telecast was on until after 1130 PM eastern time in 2008 when they were at Torrey. And even with 'sunset' being at 8:29, you still have probably 30 minutes of light left and still able to see fairly well. You want to push that and you could probably play until 9:15 or 9:30 (I know I've played that late during the summer). I don't see it being an issue, they can finish in 4:30 as two-somes.

[David_Tepper]

I was more than a little surprised to see the teetimes scheduled for so very late today. If the fog happens to roll in, it could force play to stop well before 8:00pm. It would be a shame if everyone does not fininsh the 3rd round today.

[Jason McNamara]

the USGA might be gambling a bit to assume that the last group will finish before TV coverage ends

That would be a legitimate concern if there were any NBC Saturday night programming, but there isn't.  So no gamble here.

I am not sure it would be a gamble on any night, given NBC's programming throughout the rest of the week.

[Fred Yanni]

I actually have another major issue with the late start times.... 

I am assuming that Sunday coverage will not end until after 9pm EST, but the odds are that I will not be able to watch the last 9 holes with my 5 year old son on father's day.  Maybe I am already an old man at 40 years old - but I think this is an unacceptable move by the USGA. 

[Mike Benham]

What about Saturday Night Live ?     ...   

So yep, this will be better then any other NBC Saturday Night programming ... and if the USGA wanted it prime time, that's what they are getting ...

Sunday's coverage is schedule to finished at 6:00 PM PDT (9:00 PM EDT) to try and knock some viewers away from 60 minutes ...

[John Moore II]

i geuss this fits best on topic right here, but i just watched Dustin Johnson hit an iron to the 4th green. Now anyone who has played with me knows I can hit the ball along ways, but a 285 yard 3 iron? Thats game that I don't have, not by a long shot. Simply amazing.