Another US washout

So, what do you blame? Pollution? Deforestation? Global warming? Whatever is happening, it would seem a budding meteorologist could do worse than to follow the US Tour in an attempt to comprehend what is happening to the world's weather patterns.

Yesterday, the Players Championship at the TPC at Sawgrass became the latest victim, the seventh tournament on tour this season to be affected by bad weather.

As severe thunderstorms hit the northern Florida area, virtually the entire day's play was lost with only 30 players managing to start their second rounds. Even then, they were out on the course for a mere 44 minutes before play was suspended, and then had to endure a further seven hours of kicking their heels, making small talk, reading books and playing backgammon before a decision was finally made to suspend play for the day.

Indeed, with more inclement weather forecast for the weekend, the expectation is that this event, dubbed the "fifth major" and carrying the biggest prize purse in golf, all of $8 million, will extend at least into Monday. The desire is to play 72 holes, so even a Tuesday finish has not been ruled out.

"All options are open," said PGA tournament director Mark Russell, "(but) we're definitely going to play 72 holes."

In its 31-year history, the Players has been bedevilled by bad weather, and on six previous occasions did not produce a champion until the Monday. The most recent occurrence was in 2001 when Tiger Woods, who was one of 22 players who had to return to complete their rounds after a thunderstorm hit during Sunday's final round, emerged as a one-shot winner over Vijay Singh.

The constant threat of thunderstorms at this time of year is one of the reasons the PGA Tour is considering moving the Players to a date in May.

It's also felt the tournament comes in too close proximity to the US Masters, which takes place in a fortnight, and, in terms of US television, there is an annual clash with the national collegiate basketball play-offs.

"We've spent a lot of energy evaluating the pluses and the minuses, there are a lot of factors involved in the decision," explained Tim Finchem, the tour commissioner.

Finchem said moving the Players Championship to May would "increase its importance" and "improve the chances that the touring professionals and the media would consider it a major".

He added: "If we were to move ahead with the decision, it would be because we concluded that by doing so we could continue to enhance the stature and the impact of the Players."

Yesterday's play was confined to less an hour in the morning. Play was originally delayed for an hour because of thunderstorms and, when it did eventually get under way, only 44 minutes was possible before another front closed in and stayed for much of the day. Thirty players got to start their second rounds, but only 20 had managed to complete a hole.

Of the small number of players to get in any play, only Jesper Parnevik, who was one-under for three holes, to move to four-under for the tournament, made any move.

But it could yet be in vain. As they had played the "ball down", as the Americans put it, any decision to allow for "lift, clean and place" for the rest of the tournament would mean starting the second round from scratch. A decision will be made before play starts today.

None of the three Irish players in the field got to tee off yesterday. Padraig Harrington, who opened with a 67 to be in tied-eighth, is the best placed to challenge leader Steve Jones (64), while Graeme McDowell, who had a first-round 71, and Darren Clarke, who opened with a 73, need to make up ground if they are to get into contention.

Harrington is to start his second round at 5.20pm Irish time. Clarke is first into action of the trio, at noon Irish time, and McDowell tees off 40 minutes later.