Former champ Graeme McDowell has seen two rain delays over two days of what was supposed to be a one-day 36-hole qualifier in Dallas ruin his chances of qualifying for next month’s US Open

McDowell’s 10-year exemption in lifting the gleaming US Open trophy on Father’s Day in 2011 along the shoreline at Pebble Beach ended last year at Bethpage Park on New York’s Long Island.

It meant unless he was exempt via other means, which he was not, teeing-up in a number of qualifiers and with McDowell staking his chances over two rounds on the Dallas Athletic Club course.

The event was set for two rounds on Monday but heavy rains forced officials to suspend play ahead of a Tuesday restart before yet another rain delay just prior to 11am local time.

Graeme McDowell wins 2011 US Open

McDowell had posted an opening level par 70 and was just one-under through six holes when play was halted and then in returning Tuesday morning he managed a further nine holes and with three to play only to be again called from the course.

At the second suspension McDowell was sharing 35th place and needing to be in the top-7 to win through to the June 17th tee time at Torrey Pines near San Diego in California.

McDowell had recorded four birdies and three bogeys to be lying at one-under and also one-under overall that was some three strokes outside of the leading seven.

And rather than wait around for the restart, McDowell was headed slightly on an hour’s drive south-west of the course to prepare for Thursday’s starting Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial County in the neighbouring city of Fort Worth.

Cork amateur Paul Buckley posted rounds of 75 and 77 to miss out while Cian Curley, who posted an opening 76, withdrew after eight second round holes.

Not surprisingly, there were some 50 withdrawals following the second stoppage on Tuesday morning from a starting contingent of 115.

Leading qualifiers go to:  https://www.usopen.com/qualifying/final/Dallas-texas-dallas-athletic-club.html#!&tab=results