GOLF DIGEST:The first day's play of the Austria Open in Vienna was washed out yesterday without a single shot being struck. Almost three inches of rain over the last two days left parts of Fontana Golf Club under water and could see the event reduced to 54 holes. Play was due to begin at 7.15am local time but a torrential downpour from 5am onwards, on an already saturated course, meant play was impossible.
Tournament director Miguel Vidaor said: "The second round will be played on Friday, the same times as today, then round two will be played on Saturday. We will have to make a decision before the second round starts as to whether we go for four rounds or three rounds. If we go for four we will probably have to cut to 50 and ties instead of 65 and ties, if we don't cut to 50 we might have to play just three rounds.
"We will make that decision tomorrow afternoon. If the weather forecast is perfect we might attempt four rounds but if the weather is dodgy on Sunday we might play it safe and play three rounds.
"According to the forecast, from noon onwards the rain should ease and see some sunshine coming out. There is a chance of the odd thunderstorm but luckily the forecast for tomorrow looks pretty good and also for Saturday and Sunday."
A Monday finish is a possibility but would present a number of logistical problems, especially with Euro 2008 about to start in Austria and Switzerland.
The tournament was originally scheduled to finish at 5pm on Sunday to coincide with Austria's opening game with Croatia in nearby Vienna.
TOUR AWARD:Sergio Garcia has been named European Tour golfer of the month for May after becoming only the second European to win the Players Championship at Sawgrass. Garcia's play-off victory over Paul Goydos was the Spaniard's 17th victory worldwide and came 21 years after Sandy Lyle's success in 1987.
Garcia edged out England's Richard Finch, who won the Irish Open at Adare Manor despite falling into a river on the final hole, and compatriot Miguel Angel Jimenez.
LPGA CHAMPIONSHIP:Unheralded American Emily Bastel and 43-year-old Canadian Lorie Kane took best advantage of soft conditions yesterday to share the early first-round lead at the LPGA Championship.
The pair shot six-under-par rounds of 66 at the Bulle Rock golf course in Maryland, soaked by more than an inch of rain on Wednesday.
Maria Hjorth of Sweden, South Korea's Hong Jin-joo and Marisa Baena of Colombia - who holed out her second shot for eagle at the 389-yard fifth hole - trailed the early leaders by two strokes with the pre-tournament favourites not far behind.
World number two Annika Sorenstam of Sweden and South Korean Pak Se-ri were among a large group of players at two-under-par 70. Defending champion Suzann Pettersen of Norway was in the clubhouse at 71. Lorena Ochoa of Mexico, the world number one who is aiming to win her third major in a row, was an afternoon starter in a group with Australian Karrie Webb and American Morgan Pressel.
Both Bastel, who had a successful season on the Futures Tour last year to win back her LPGA card, and Kane made three birdies each side of their bogey-free rounds.
