GOLF/Malaysian Open: Scotland's Alastair Forsyth claimed a share of the first-round lead despite being on the point of collapse in the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Temperatures reached 100 degrees Fahrenheit and sparked off an afternoon thunderstorm which meant 36 players were unable to complete their opening round at Royal Selangor.
Forsyth was among the early starters and compiled an eight-under-par 63 matched by England's Barry Lane.
The pair established a new course record for the par-71 layout but 25-year-old Forsyth was amazed he managed to remain on his feet as he struggled to acclimatise to the sweltering heat and humidity in the Malaysian capital.
"I feel terrible to be honest," said Forsyth, who carded four birdies on each nine. "I don't know how I managed to play well. The last couple of holes were a real struggle.
"At the 16th I didn't know where I was. I stood over my second shot and my head was spinning and my legs were like jelly. I thought 'I could miss this'.
"I've travelled everywhere - parts of Africa, Asia, South America - and thought I had experienced everything, but there isn't anywhere that compares to this. I've never felt bad with the heat before.
"I must have drunk about 17 bottles of water but I'm going to have to go and see someone and see if there is anything I can do to rehydrate or I doubt I'll be able to keep going for another three days. I think I'll take the umbrella tomorrow for some shade."
Forsyth is aiming to regain the card he lost last year and is playing on a sponsor's invitation after missing his card by just one place on the Order of Merit in 2001.
India's Harmeet Kahlon and Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez shared third place on six-under- par, while star attractions Nick Faldo, Michael Campbell and Padraig Harrington all managed to finish just before play was suspended for the evening.
The siren signalling the end of play sounded just as Harrington was about to play his shot to the 18th green, he chipped to within two feet to save par and complete a satisfactory first round of the season on the European Tour.
"It was the usual start-of-the-year stuff," said the Dubliner. "I started off with 11 two-putts and you're never going to score well doing that.
"I went in three bunkers on the front nine . . . but I was pleased with the back nine and glad to get the round finished just in time."
