First-round leader Mike Weir returned to the top of the US Open leaderboard as the leading contenders tried to beat the fast approaching rain storms at Bethpage Black. Weir shot an opening six-under-par 64 yesterday as the US Open struggled to get back on schedule.

Weir, though, let his lead slip as the second round began in quick succession last night, dropping shots at the fifth and ninth holes before play was halted for the day in near darkness to fall to four under.

That was two shots behind overnight leader Lucas Glover, but Weir quickly made amends with a birdie at the par-four 10th as play restarted to narrow the American’s lead to one shot.

Glover then birdied his 15th hole, the par-four sixth, to move to seven under but Weir carded back-to-back birdies at 12 and 13 to join him and second-placed Ricky Barnes followed suit to make it a three-way lead after birdies at his 11th and 14th holes.

With an 80 per cent chance of rain forecast for later in the day, Glover came home with a 64 to take the early halfway clubhouse lead at seven under, with Japan’s Azuma Yano shooting a 65 to get to three under and former Open champion David Duval adding a 70 to his opening 67.

American amateur Nick Taylor was also in the house at two under following a 65.

Weir was negotiating the difficult closing stretch, managing to par the second toughest hole on the 7,426-yard Black course this week, the par-four 15th.

Peter Hanson of Sweden began the day at four under but dropped a shot at the par-four 16th and finished at three under with a 71, while Americans Todd Hamilton, another former Open champion, and Sean O’Hair were at two under.

World number two Phil Mickelson was playing the last at one under par for the tournament, even for the day, as was England’s Ross Fisher, while American Gary Woodland was also on that mark after carding a 66.

Rory McIlroy carded a second round 70 to stay at two over and should be assured of making the cut while Darren Clarke will be packing his bags after finishing down the field on 10 over.

Graeme McDowell is at one under having led the early starters with an opening 69 yesterday and having played in much tougher conditions over the first two days.

His half of the draw, also including the reigning major champions Tiger Woods, Padraig Harrington and Angel Cabrera, was preparing to go out for their second rounds expecting a much tougher time of it with the heavy rain closing in on Long Island.