Golf:Play on the opening day of the Ryder Cup may yet be abandoned but organisers are still hopeful some sort of action will take place at a drenched Celtic Manor, as the wait from the 9.45am suspension drags on. Just over two hours play were possible before incessant rain and a waterlogged Twenty Ten course led to the suspension.
Europe led in three matches and were down in one before the teams were called off the course to the sanctuary of the clubhouse.
Since then there have been three update announcements – 12 noon, 1pm and 2pm – with the fourth, due at 4pm, expected to confirm play will be either be abandoned for the day or resume at around 5pm. Conditions in the last hour have improved marginally though casual water is everywhere and greenkeeping staff still have a mountain of work to do to get the course anywhere close to playable..
Water has gathered all over the Celtic Manor venue with fairways, greens and bunkers all holding water. Even the most fervent fans threw in the towel and either headed for the exit or to the bars at the tented village.
Today’s suspension of play was the first since the 1997 Ryder Cup at Valderrama. Should play be abandoned the plan would be for the players to take to the course at first light – or first available opportunity – tomorrow morning and resume the matches from where they left off this morning.
However, fog is forecast for tomorrow morning which means a Monday finish is a certainty. In an attempt to get back on some sort of schedule the prospect of dropping one of the fourball/foursomes sessions will also be up for consideration.
"I was told that if this was a strokeplay event, we wouldn't be playing at all," European captain Colin Montgomerie said before the opening tee shot.
“It was getting to the stage where there was no relief on the fairways, so you were either having to play it out of casual water or drop it in the rough,” explained McIlroy as he came off the course. “It was a good decision. Hopefully it eases off so we can get back out there and play some golf."
John Paramor, European Tour chief referee, this morning spoke to both captains and agreed to suspend play. “Talking to the head greenkeeper we feel we probably need an hour of pushing water to make (the conditions) better than it was when we started, that’s our goal,” he said.
“Players were hitting the fairway but their nearest point of relief from casual water was into the high rough, that’s when it gets unfair. Obviously we had preferred lies in operation this morning, but there has been such a volume of water, players couldn’t guarantee getting any contact on the ball so that’s why we stopped.”
Paramor tried to remain upbeat regarding the playing schedule over the coming days. “We have around four hours spare on Sunday but not much tomorrow. We are still hopeful of finishing on time but we have Monday as a contingency,” he added.
As for the morsel of morning action, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer were two up on Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson after five holes when play was suspended. Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell were one up on Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar after four holes while Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker trailed Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher by one hole after three.
In the last match rookies Jeff Overton and Bubba Watson were two up on Luke Donald and Pádraig Harrington after the Americans birdied the opening two holes.
Friday Fourballs (Europe first)
Lee Westwood/Martin Kaymer 2 upPhil Mickelson/Dustin Johnson thru 5
Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell 1 upStewart Cink/Matt Kuchar thru 4
Ian Poulter/Ross Fisher 1 upSteve Stricker/Tiger Woods thru 3
Luke Donald/Pádraig Harrington 2 downBubba Watson/Jeff Overton thru 2