The Volvo Masters tournament closing out the European Tour season was reduced to 54 holes today as organisers tried to finish the showcase event on time.
Strong winds had badly disrupted the three-million-dollar competition on Friday and Saturday when the 66-strong field were only able to complete two rounds.
Playing on until Monday was ruled out as an option as 21 of the players were due to fly out to Japan for the World Cup which starts at Gotemba on Thursday, and it was decided to close out the event in three rounds today.
The winds finally did abate, but it was uncustomary early morning frost which brought a further one-hour delay to proceedings.
Ireland's Paul McGinley was leading at the halfway stage at nine-under par after rounds of 66 and 69, the latter into the teeth of the gale.
Sweden's Mathias Gronberg, who had not played since Friday afternoon, was lying second two strokes back from McGinley with two other Irishmen - Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke both on six-under.
AFP