Singapore storms threaten McIlroy bid
Source: AFP |
November 10, 2012, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
TROPICAL thunderstorms threw the US$6 million Barclays Singapore Open into chaos yesterday and threatened Rory McIlroy's bid to seal the European money title this weekend.
After a rain-hit first day, play was suspended twice before finally being abandoned for the day as forked lightning streaked the skies and heavy downpours hit the par-71 Sentosa Golf Club.
Thailand's Chapchai Nirat and Simon Dyson held the joint lead midway through their second rounds, with half the field yet to take the course and more rain forecast for the weekend.
Organizers said more delays could force them to slash the event from 72 to 54 holes or to complete the fourth round on Monday. Last year, it was cut to 54 holes and still only finished on the Monday morning.
"At present, our aim is still to complete 72 holes, weather permitting," said tournament director Jose Maria Zamora.
Reducing the tournament could be inconvenient for world No. 1 McIlroy, who was tied for 29th after 12 holes of his second round and needing a high finish to confirm himself as Europe's top prize money-winner this year.
The 23-year-old, bidding to become only the second man to seal the money titles on both sides of the Atlantic in the same year, completed his first round five shots off the pace and went straight back out for round two. Watched by tennis star girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki but suffering from a cold, McIlroy made a wretched start to his second round with bogey and double bogey in his first four holes.
But some razor-sharp iron shots got him back to 1-under-par for the tournament before he was hauled off the course for the second time, in a golf buggy with Wozniacki sitting cosily on his lap.
Ryder Cup star Francesco Molinari, his fellow Italian Matteo Manassero and Denmark's Thomas Bjorn were a shot back from Chapchai and Dyson at 5-under.
After a rain-hit first day, play was suspended twice before finally being abandoned for the day as forked lightning streaked the skies and heavy downpours hit the par-71 Sentosa Golf Club.
Thailand's Chapchai Nirat and Simon Dyson held the joint lead midway through their second rounds, with half the field yet to take the course and more rain forecast for the weekend.
Organizers said more delays could force them to slash the event from 72 to 54 holes or to complete the fourth round on Monday. Last year, it was cut to 54 holes and still only finished on the Monday morning.
"At present, our aim is still to complete 72 holes, weather permitting," said tournament director Jose Maria Zamora.
Reducing the tournament could be inconvenient for world No. 1 McIlroy, who was tied for 29th after 12 holes of his second round and needing a high finish to confirm himself as Europe's top prize money-winner this year.
The 23-year-old, bidding to become only the second man to seal the money titles on both sides of the Atlantic in the same year, completed his first round five shots off the pace and went straight back out for round two. Watched by tennis star girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki but suffering from a cold, McIlroy made a wretched start to his second round with bogey and double bogey in his first four holes.
But some razor-sharp iron shots got him back to 1-under-par for the tournament before he was hauled off the course for the second time, in a golf buggy with Wozniacki sitting cosily on his lap.
Ryder Cup star Francesco Molinari, his fellow Italian Matteo Manassero and Denmark's Thomas Bjorn were a shot back from Chapchai and Dyson at 5-under.
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