Heavy snow in the Arizona desert meant less than four hours’ play was possible on the opening day of golf’s Accenture Match Play Championship.
Not one of the 64 players is through to the second round yet and 10 games, including those of top seeds Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods and 2011 winner Luke Donald, have yet to start.
Despite freezing temperatures Sergio Garcia was able to get the tournament off on time at 7.25am, but he was on the 16th green two up against Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee when the action was called off.
Garcia was possibly one putt from victory, but like everybody else was just happy to retreat to the warmth of the clubhouse.
It had been not only cold, but windy and then wet before the rain turned to sleet and eventually to snow.
Also going well were Ian Poulter, champion three years ago, and Lee Westwood. Justin Rose held a two-hole lead over KJ Choi at the turn but the fifth seed had been four up.
Ryder Cup hero Poulter led Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher, winner of the Dubai Desert Classic on his last start three weeks ago, by three after 12, while Westwood stood two up on Garcia’s fellow Spaniard Rafael Cabrera Bello after five.
Bristol’s Chris Wood, who won his first European Tour title a week later in Qatar, was level with Masters champion Bubba Watson after six, while Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington one of two all-Irish clashes with McIlroy waiting to play Shane Lowry had only just teed off when they were called in.
The biggest lead was held by Australian Jason Day, who was six up on American Ryder Cup player Zach Johnson after 10, while holder Hunter Mahan turned four up on young Italian Matteo Manassero.