Snow calls halt to play on first day in the desert

As Harrington headed off Lowry and McIlroy were side by side recalling their amateur days.

“It’s awful, isn’t it,” said Lowry, who was visibly disappointed not to get going. “I was really looking forward to getting out there but this is the worst I’ve ever seen at a golf tournament.

“It’s been bad a couple of times in the West, but that was mainly the wind. I remember one year it was about minus five at Rosses Point with the wind chill factor but I never saw snow!”

McIlroy recalled shooting 86 in the 2003 Connacht Youth at Connemara, where he took a 10 on the last as hailstones lashed his face. “It was nothing as bad as this. But I do remember standing on the 18th tee box there and I swear I felt tears rolling down my cheeks. It was just horrendous. But there’s nothing you can do with this stuff.

Learned to ski

“I’ve been near the snow a few times though recently. I was in Aspen and the French Alps so I’m glad I learned to ski, I might have to do it this week.”

Of the 21 matches that got unde way, most went to form with the big surprise coming from Jason Day, who was six up on Zach Johnson through 10 holes.

Matchplay specialist Poulter was three up on Stephen Gallacher through 12 holes but it was more of a struggle for the in-form South African Charl Schwartzel, who came back from two down at the turn to square the match by the 11th.

Sergio Garcia was two up with three to play against Thongchai Jaidee in the opening match while Justin Rose was two up on KJ Choi through nine holes with Lee Westwood also two up on Rafael Cabrera-Bello through five.

Play suspended due to snow (US unless stated)

Sergio Garcia (Spa) 2 up on Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) ( 15 holes)

Matt Kuchar 3 up on Hiroyuki Fujita (Jpn) (14)

Ian Poulter (Eng) 3 up on Stephen Gallacher (Sco) (12)

Bo Van Pelt 5 up on John Senden (Aus) (12)

Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) level with Russell Henley (11)

Zach Johnson 6 down to Jason Day (Aus) (10)

Jason Dufner 3 down to Richard Sterne (Rsa) (10)

Hunter Mahan 4 up on Matteo Manassero (Ita) (9)

Justin Rose (Eng) 2 up on K J Choi (Kor) (9)

Bill Haas 3 down to Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) (8)

Adam Scott (Aus) 1 up on Tim Clark (Rsa) (8)

Jamie Donaldson (Wal) 3 down to Thorbjorn Olesen (Den) (7)

Bubba Watson level with Chris Wood (Eng) (6)

Jim Furyk level with Ryan Moore (6)

Lee Westwood (Eng) 2 up on Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) (5)

Martin Kaymer (Ger) 1 down to George Coetzee (Rsa) (4)

Keegan Bradley level with Marcus Fraser (Aus) (3)

Ernie Els (Rsa) 1 up on Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) (3)

Steve Stricker 2 up on Henrik Stenson (Swe) (2)

Nick Watney level with David Toms (1)

Dustin Johnson level with Alexander Noren (Swe) (1)