Europe had established early control in Thursday morning’s opening fourball matches at the Ryder Cup when play was suspended due to unplayable conditions at a waterlogged Celtic Manor Resort.
With heavier rain expected to sweep across the Twenty Ten course later, a Monday finish is on the cards. Although play was set to resume on Friday, the time already lost exceeded the four extra hours set aside for Sunday morning.
Europe led holders the United States in three of the four encounters out on the course when play was halted with large pools of water forming on the fairways and greens.
It was the first suspension of play at the Ryder Cup since the 1997 edition at Valderrama, Spain. “He (rules official John Paramor) gave us the option to suspend play,” said European captain Colin Montgomerie.
“That puts us in a horrible position of not being able to complete the matches but hopefully we can make up the time.”
The pace of play was tediously slow as the greenkeeping staff struggled to squeegee every green before the players putted out. British world number three Lee Westwood and U.S. PGA champion Martin Kaymer were two up on Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson in the top match after five holes.
Northern Irishmen Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell were one up on Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar after four while Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker trailed Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher by one hole after three. In the bottom match, U.S. rookies Jeff Overton and Bubba Watson were two up on Britain’s Luke Donald and Irishman Padraig Harrington after two holes.
{{/usCountry}}Northern Irishmen Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell were one up on Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar after four while Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker trailed Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher by one hole after three. In the bottom match, U.S. rookies Jeff Overton and Bubba Watson were two up on Britain’s Luke Donald and Irishman Padraig Harrington after two holes.
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