Ryder Cup nightmare continues

Golf – Ryder Cup:This Ryder Cup is fast turning into a sodden nightmare with yet more torrential downpours leaving the Twenty Ten course at Celtic Manor unplayable and a Monday finish now certain.

Over seven hours of play was lost on Friday and with incessant overnight rain continuing into this morning, the course and surrounds have taken a hammering.

Organisers closed the resort to the general public and advised spectators to stay away but the gates will now be opened at 11am. Play is also scheduled to get under way from 1.30pm in the hope of concluding the foursomes/fourball matches which came off the course last night.

USA hold a 6-4 lead over Europe but trailed in all six fourball/foursomes matches on course when fading light ended play yesterday.

Organisers had hoped to avoid a Monday finish by altering the schedule. Instead of the traditional five sessions, the fourth was scrapped and two extra matches were squeezed into sessions two and three with all 24 players in action.

Both captains will submit their singles line-up one hour before the end of the third session and tomorrow’s singles will set off from 9.05am with 12 minute intervals between each match. As part of the captain’s agreement the event will conclude once and for all at 6.37pm tomorrow regardless if there are matches still uncompleted due to further weather delays. Those matches still on the course will be declared a half to determine the overall points tally.

The 2006 Ryder Cup at the K-Club fell foul of the weather and this week in the Usk Valley the elements have been even more disruptive. Now is the time to consider bringing this biennial event to an earlier date in the year as late September/early October leaves too much to chance when played in these parts. Too much has been invested and at this stage only sympathy can be felt for the Wales Tourist Board as these sodden scenes will do nothing to drive visitors to Wales to play golf.

"We have been told by meteorologists the rain will ease off between nine and 10am, maybe 10.30am," said John Paramor, European Tour chief referee. "We will then probably need one to one-and-a-half hours to make the course playable again...and we expect a significant break in the weather this afternoon."

It was a pitiful sight all across the entire venue this morning as the ghostlike tented village lacks soul without any activity, while slippery, muddy walkways are still a health and safety concern. Fairways, bunkers and greens are drenched and it will be all the green staff can do to get the course playable if the rains ever relent.

On the course Lee Westwood and Luke Donald appear an unbeatable force as they raced into a four up lead over the unbeaten Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker after nine holes.

Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy were the other foursomes pairing up against Zach Johnson and Hunter Mahan and were three up through seven.

Pádraig Harrington and Ross Fisher were one up on Jim Furyk and Dustin Johnson in the top fourball match after eight holes. Peter Hanson and Miguel Angel Jimenez were two up on Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton through six.

The Molinari brothers, Edoardo and Francesco, held a one hole advantage over Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar (five holes) with Ian Poulter and Martin Kaymer two up on Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler (four holes).

Overall: Europe 4 USA 6

Session Three

Foursomes
Luke Donald/ Lee Westwood lead Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods 4 up (after 9 holes)
Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell lead Zach Johnson/Hunter Mahan after 3 up (7 holes)

Fourballs
Pádraig Harrington/Ross Fisher lead Jim Furyk/Dustin Johnson 1 up (8 holes)
Peter Hanson/Miguel Angel Jimenez lead Bubba Watson/Jeff Overton 2 up (6 holes)
Edoardo Molinari/Francesco Molinari lead Stewart Cink/Matt Kuchar 1 up (5 holes)
Ian Poulter/Martin Kaymer lead Phil Mickelson/Rickie Fowler 2 up (4 holes)

Session Two Foursomes results

Europe 2.5 USA 3.5
Miguel Angel Jimenez/Peter Hanson lost to Tiger Woods/ Steve Stricker 4 and 3
Edoardo Molinari/Francesco Molinari lost to Zach Johnson/Hunter Mahan 2 holes
Lee Westwood/Martin Kaymer halved with Jim Furyk/Rickie Fowler
Pádraig Harrington/Ross Fisher defeated Phil Mickelson/Dustin Johnson 3 and 2
Ian Poulter/Luke Donald defeated Bubba Watson/Jeff Overton 2 and 1
Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell lost to Stewart Cink/Matt Kuchar 1 hole

Session One Fourball results

Europe 1.5 USA 2.5
Lee Westwood/Martin Kaymer defeated Phil Mickelson/Dustin Johnson 3 and 2
Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell halved with Stewart Cink/Matt Kuchar
Ian Poulter/Ross Fisher lost to Steve Stricker /Tiger Woods 2 holes
Luke Donald/ Pádraig Harrington lost to Bubba Watson/Jeff Overton 3 and 2