Accunture World Match Play: The promised rain duly arrived at La Costa here yesterday and wiped out play in the Accenture Matchplay Championship.
The practice ground was awash, the ninth fairway negotiable only by canoe, and, though not strictly relevant to the golfers, the La Costa tennis centre court - a concrete rectangle - had turned into a swimming pool.
The players, unable even to practise, could only sit and stare as the rain hammered down, giving Colin Montgomerie in particular, due to play Stewart Cink, further time to reflect on his fall from golfing grace and how it might best be repaired.
On Wednesday the Scot, two down with three to play against Nick Price, looked likely to lose in the first round for the fourth time in five attempts. Had he done so, his plan to get back first into the top 50 and then the top 20 in the world rankings would have been in tatters.
But he holed a couple of good putts, Price made a mistake or two and Montgomerie won at the 20th. His relief was palpable.
"I was thinking, 'Dammit, I'll just go home and then go to Dubai.' But you hole a putt and the whole world seems a different place. My record here is bloody awful and I haven't really come to terms with this course or its condition. But I won and the way that I won was satisfying.
"This comeback thing is hard, very hard. It's so easy to drop out of the top 50 - I've proved it - it's so bloody simple to drop away and so bloody difficult to get back.
"I've been through quite a bit recently. Win lose or draw I'm more comfortable with myself. I'm happier with everything around now, and if that's showing, that's good.
"There have been all sorts of problems, marital problems, the health of my children, but that's all sorted out. When you're having those problems golf takes on a whole new different meaning."
Last year Montgomerie missed five cuts in succession and lost in the first round. "That was it," said Montgomerie. "Boom, from 15th in the world you're 40th. The warning bells are out and the harder you try the worse it is."
The former world number two began the week in 57th in the standings, outside the all-important top 50 which guarantees entry into major championships and the biggest and most lucrative events.
As things stand, the 40-year-old is not even exempt for this year's British Open championship at his home course of Royal Troon, or the US Open he came so close to winning on three occasions.
"I was beating myself at two-over-par after 14 holes, which I'm good at in this event, so I am delighted to come back that way and win three of the last five holes," said the former European number one.
"When I had to hole a putt on 16 and I did, and when I had a chance on the 20th hole I holed that, and that's very satisfying.
"Don't tell Stewart Cink but I feel one up on the first tee somehow, finishing that way."
This week Montgomerie's hard work will comprise getting to at least the quarter-finals. That would be the equivalent of fifth place and could get Montgomerie back into the top 50. If he got to the semi-finals he could look forward to a place in the top 40 and a win would solve a lot of things for a long time.
Play will resume this morning, weather permitting, with a 7 a.m. start (local time, 3 p.m. Irish) from both the first and 10th tees.
Both the second and third rounds are now scheduled for today.
Seven Europeans have made it through to the last 32 - Montgomerie,Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Ian Poulter, Thomas Bjorn, Fredrik Jacobson and Alex Cejka - and Europe is guaranteed two players in the third round with Bjorn facing Jacobson and Clarke taking on Cejka.
