Golf:Just 30 minutes play was managed at the WGC-Cadillac Championship in Miami before an approaching thunder storm caused officials to call a halt on the Blue Monster course at Doral today.

Ian Poulter had time only to drive into the left rough down the long first, while Welshman Rhys Davies made five there and had a two-footer on the next to remain level par. Danes Thomas Bjorn and Anders Hansen and Indian SSP Chowrasia led at one under.

Graeme McDowell, playing alongside Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, had yet to get his campaign underway while Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington were also among the later starters.

The 69-strong field had already been cut to 66 before a ball was struck after Bubba Watson, Ben Crane and South African Tim Clark withdrew.

Watson is suffering from an illness while Clark has not played since the Sony Open in Hawaii in January because of tendinitis in his right elbow and Crane suffered a pulled rib muscle at the World Match Play.

Watson, the world number 15, tweeted: “Hit one ball (on the practice range) and knew I could not play. Club felt so heavy. Time to rest and be ready for next week.”