Rain caused the second round of the Tucson Open to be suspended for the day yesterday, the fourth tournament out of five on the west coast to be so disrupted on the US Tour this year.

But while playing was going on, David Duval, who won his last three tournament starts in 1997 after going 86 events without a victory on the PGA Tour, fired a magnificent 10-under-par 62. His 16-under 128 gave him a seven-shot lead after all the morning starters were back in the clubhouse.

An incredible front nine of 28 which contained two eagles, where he holed from the fairway, and four birdies set up the round. At that stage, even though Duval denied it ever entered his head, he must have been thinking the magic number 59.

"If I had made par or birdie at the 10th hole that thought may have crossed my mind, but I made bogey there and so it did not," said Duval, as he relaxed after the round as though he had just taken a stroll in the park.

"I came here after a week's skiing in Sun Valley, Idaho not knowing really what to expect and I only managed to hit 20 balls on Tuesday before the rain came.

Even more remarkable was the fact that the three-ball of Duval, Justin Leonard and Scott Hoch were a combined 34 under par after 36 holes, with overnight leader Leonard tied by Hoch at nine-under-par 135.

Of the European players in the field, all of whom had late tee times yesterday afternoon, Sandy Lyle was leading the way after his opening 69, the 1995 British Open champion making two birdies in his first four holes to get to five under for the tournament.

Richard Coughlan has the odds stacked against him after opening with a 73 on Thursday - his originally posted score of 74 was corrected on the board later in the day. After dropping a shot at the opening hole, he birdied the third and fourth after hitting his approach shots to within 12 inches to get back to level par. At the fifth he finished six feet from the flag as the heavens opened and play was suspended.

Keith Nolan, who hit a great 69 on day one, did not play as he had been due to go out in the final three-ball off the 10th tee. In all, 72 players were on the course when play was halted. The organisers hope to finish the second round today