Monday finish likely at rain-hit Ryder
Source: Agencies |
October 2, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE Ryder Cup looks set to finish on Monday for the first time in its 83-year history because rain turned Celtic Manor into a water-logged mess yesterday.
The home team was off to a good start, leading three of the four morning best-ball matches when play was suspended for the first time since the 1997 Ryder Cup in Spain.
The forecast called for the rain to move out by early afternoon, but with only a few extra hours built into a tight three-day schedule of matches, it looked as though the first Ryder Cup in Wales could be headed for a Monday finish.
"It's a shame," US assistant captain Jeff Sluman said. "There's 10 years of planning that went into this, and we're held hostage by the weather."
The Twenty Ten course in Newport, south Wales, which was built especially for the Ryder Cup, has a complex drainage system that allows the water to flow off quickly. But first, it had to stop raining. Officials said they already had contingency plans to extend the event until Monday if necessary.
"Our people, we feel, probably need about an hour of pushing water to make it better than it was when we started," said John Paramor, the European Tour's chief referee. "So that is our goal."
The players, meanwhile, headed back to the clubhouse and tried to pass the time. Ian Poulter tweeted a picture of Padraig Harrington sleeping on the floor of the Europe locker room, using a bag as a pillow.
The Americans were forced to change their wet weather gear because they didn't work.
Their rainsuits were criticized by British television commentators, including renowned US coach Butch Harmon, as looking more suited for a basketball team.
Merchandise tent
Amazingly, American officials had to hustle over to the merchandise tent, where fans shop, to snatch up as many replacement suits as they could find on the shelves.
"We're disappointed with how the rain gear performed," PGA of America spokesman Julius Mason said.
The defending champion Americans got off to a shaky start, missing the fairway with five of their first six tee shots. Phil Mickelson was the only one to hit it where he wanted - and he flew his next shot over the green.
Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer bolted to a 2-up advantage through five holes on Mickelson and Dustin Johnson in the leadoff match. Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy were 1 up on Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar after four holes, the same edge that Poulter and Ross Fisher held on Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker through No. 3.
Amazingly, the only match the US was leading was the last one. That's the slot where Pavin made the heavily debated decision to pair newcomers Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton, but they rewarded his faith early on with birdies at the first two holes.
Overton rolled in a long putt from behind the first green, and the long-hitting Watson made birdie at the par-5 second for a 2-up lead on Luke Donald and Harrington.
The US hoped the delay might stem the European momentum, or at least clear out the nasty weather. Europe captain Colin Montgomerie felt his team had an edge playing in damp conditions.
"It's not fun for anyone, agreed," Montgomerie said shortly after the opening shot. "But it's probably less fun for the Americans. In America, when it rains it usually thunders, too, and you can't play. I just hope it doesn't get so bad, the course gets so water-logged, that we can't play."
The home team was off to a good start, leading three of the four morning best-ball matches when play was suspended for the first time since the 1997 Ryder Cup in Spain.
The forecast called for the rain to move out by early afternoon, but with only a few extra hours built into a tight three-day schedule of matches, it looked as though the first Ryder Cup in Wales could be headed for a Monday finish.
"It's a shame," US assistant captain Jeff Sluman said. "There's 10 years of planning that went into this, and we're held hostage by the weather."
The Twenty Ten course in Newport, south Wales, which was built especially for the Ryder Cup, has a complex drainage system that allows the water to flow off quickly. But first, it had to stop raining. Officials said they already had contingency plans to extend the event until Monday if necessary.
"Our people, we feel, probably need about an hour of pushing water to make it better than it was when we started," said John Paramor, the European Tour's chief referee. "So that is our goal."
The players, meanwhile, headed back to the clubhouse and tried to pass the time. Ian Poulter tweeted a picture of Padraig Harrington sleeping on the floor of the Europe locker room, using a bag as a pillow.
The Americans were forced to change their wet weather gear because they didn't work.
Their rainsuits were criticized by British television commentators, including renowned US coach Butch Harmon, as looking more suited for a basketball team.
Merchandise tent
Amazingly, American officials had to hustle over to the merchandise tent, where fans shop, to snatch up as many replacement suits as they could find on the shelves.
"We're disappointed with how the rain gear performed," PGA of America spokesman Julius Mason said.
The defending champion Americans got off to a shaky start, missing the fairway with five of their first six tee shots. Phil Mickelson was the only one to hit it where he wanted - and he flew his next shot over the green.
Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer bolted to a 2-up advantage through five holes on Mickelson and Dustin Johnson in the leadoff match. Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy were 1 up on Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar after four holes, the same edge that Poulter and Ross Fisher held on Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker through No. 3.
Amazingly, the only match the US was leading was the last one. That's the slot where Pavin made the heavily debated decision to pair newcomers Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton, but they rewarded his faith early on with birdies at the first two holes.
Overton rolled in a long putt from behind the first green, and the long-hitting Watson made birdie at the par-5 second for a 2-up lead on Luke Donald and Harrington.
The US hoped the delay might stem the European momentum, or at least clear out the nasty weather. Europe captain Colin Montgomerie felt his team had an edge playing in damp conditions.
"It's not fun for anyone, agreed," Montgomerie said shortly after the opening shot. "But it's probably less fun for the Americans. In America, when it rains it usually thunders, too, and you can't play. I just hope it doesn't get so bad, the course gets so water-logged, that we can't play."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
