Just over two hours play was possible on the first morning of the Ryder Cup as incessant rainand a waterlogged Twenty Ten course led to a suspension of play at 9.45am. Europe led in three of the four matches when officials called a halt as the home side coped better with the horrendous conditions.
The European Tour was due to make an announcement at 12pm but was twice put back until 2pm and play is not expected to resume until at least 3pm as another weather front rolled into the area. With fog forecast for tomorrow morning, a Monday finish is on the cards. Given such anticipated delays the prospect of dropping one of the fourball/foursomes sessions could also be considered.
“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,” explained John Paramor, European Tour chief referee, who earlier spoke to both captains and agreed to suspend play.
“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.”
Casual water gathered all over the Celtic Manor venue which left officials with no option but bring the players off the course and to the sanctuary of the clubhouse. This marks the first suspension of play in the Ryder Cup since 1997 at Valderrama.
"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 remains to be seen how officials will try to get back on schedule but Paramor was hoping to use some spare time on Sunday to help the situation. “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,” added Paramor, noting the delay also has a knock-on effect to the captains naming their afternoon foursomes pairings.
“It is 45 minutes before the start of the matches that they need to put their pairings in so we will work out what the starting time for those matches will be first.”
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.
“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.
“You get a few chills down your spine. I didn’t play the first hole too well but after that I played okay. I’m going to dry off, and get myself ready to get back out there.”
Friday Fourballs (Europe first)
Lee Westwood/Martin Kaymer 2 up Phil Mickelson/Dustin Johnson thru 5
Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell 1 up Stewart Cink/Matt Kuchar thru 4
Ian Poulter/Ross Fisher 1 up Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods thru 3
Luke Donald/Pádraig Harrington 2 down Bubba Watson/Jeff Overton thru 2
Courtesy of Irish Times
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