By Ken Klavon, USGA

Newport, R.I. – Paula Creamer craned her neck out of the second floor of the clubhouse at Newport Country Club at noon Thursday and saw the same thing she saw three hours before – basically nothing.

Really. She couldn’t. A thick cloud of white stuff impaired her vision.

In the end, the weather won out. Except it wasn’t the rain and the worries that the course would be too drenched to play, as officials feared. Mother Nature threw a curveball in the form of fog thicker than cotton candy that blanketed the entire course, taking with it what was supposed to be Thursday’s first round. Instead, the first round will be conducted Friday, the second round Saturday and the final 36 holes on Sunday.

Paula Creamer talks on her cell phone while staring out a window from the second-floor clubhouse at Newport Country Club Thursday. (Steve Gibbons/USGA)

Creamer didn’t mind too much, even if she awoke at 3:45 a.m. for her 7:33 a.m. tee time. She worked out and headed for the course, only to find out that play had been delayed. When rumor spread that play would be postponed, she looked at her aching right wrist that she hurt just after the McDonald’s LPGA championship.

"Well, it’s going to give my wrist some rest," she said of the strained ligaments.

Rest is what everyone else in the field will get, too. Many players with early tee times could be seen lounging in the clubhouse, mingling with other players, signing autographs and eating. They also practiced on the putting green. That was the extent of their sight thanks to a fickle fog that finally started to break around 2:15 p.m. EDT.

Amie Cochran hovered around the practice putting green, working on her game longer than normal after arriving at 7 a.m. for her 8:50 a.m. tee time. Not to be late, she laid out all her clothes Wednesday night before going to bed. When she found out things would be pushed back, she took part in the USGA’s "Catch the Spirit" program.

She wasn’t complaining.

"It’s like playing blind-folded," she said of the fog, adding, "This is great for me. I’ve met so many people in the last six hours and it really makes you appreciate how many people are coming out to see you play."

None of the LPGA Tour veterans seemed bothered, knowing that it’s part of the job.

"When you’ve been out on tour for a while, you’re going to go through this sort of thing," said Pat Hurst, a two-time USGA champion.

Christina Kim, three years on the LPGA Tour, killed the time by signing a boatload of autographs and interacting with fans. At one point Juli Inkster, in the role of prankster, purposely bumped into Kim to disrupt her concentration as Inkster trotted toward the practice tee.

Meanwhile Kim, with a 7:33 a.m. tee time, also stayed busy by, well, we’ll let her explain.

"Let’s see," she said. "I got here early, saw we were delayed, walked around, talked, shook some hands, kissed some babies, saw we were delayed, hit some balls, ate, and then walked around some more, talked, signed some autographs, heard there was another delay, shook more babies’ hands, kissed some fans," said Kim, laughing, she of the 7:33 a.m. tee time.

Perhaps the biggest stir of the day occurred when Wie walked out the clubhouse. Cameramen worked to get into position to shoot her – standing around.

In any event, with a 36-hole day on the horizon, part of the challenge now will be for players to be mentally prepared. Bad weather or not, the championship will be played in its entirety.

"We will play 72 holes," said Mike Davis, USGA Senior Director of Rules and Competitions. "It is a national championship."

None of the players seemed to mind.

"You have to be an athlete out there," said Creamer.

Said Cochran, who missed the cut last year at Cherry Hills: "It will be a test of true endurance. It won’t only test the mental part of the game but also the physical. Anyone can do 18 holes but it will be a chore to go through 36."

The only negative comment, if it can be constituted as negative, came from Kim.

"The only thing about 36 is, if you’re not swinging the club that well that day," she said, "you’re stuck with it all day instead of just 18 holes."

Ken Klavon is the USGA Web Editor. E-mail him with questions or comments at kklavon@usga.org.