Rain worry for Russian organisers

EUROPEAN TOUR: Heavy rain caused the cancellation of yesterday's Russian Open pro-am and cast doubts on whether the first European Tour event in the country would go its full 72-hole distance.

But former Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart, the top-ranked player at the event, urged organisers to ensure the tournament, co-run with the Challenge Tour, was played over four rounds.

"I hope the players and the officials accept that conditions are going to be difficult and the fairways very wet, but let's at least try our best for four rounds and make this a proper tournament," said Coltart.

Coltart, who is seeking his third European Tour title at Le Meridien Moscow Golf and Country Club, is also using the event to cement his ranking on the tour money list, which has jumped to 30th after he tied for third at the Scandinavian Masters and finished 13th at the Nordic Open over the last two weeks.

"I'm playing so well, why take two weeks off?" said the 33-year-old Coltart, who has not qualified for this week's US PGA Championship in Rochester, New York, or next week's WGC NEC Championship in Akron, Ohio.

His main challenge could come from three-time tour winner Sven Struver of Germany, who has improved his season since enlisting the help of sports psychologist Jos Vanstiphout - who also counsels world number two Ernie Els.

The 36-year-old German is in 115th place on the money list, the cut-off mark for a card for next year, and, with his exemption expiring at the end of this year, needs to follow up his last three weeks' improved results to move up the rankings.

"I don't know if I've turned my season around, but I finished sixth in the Irish Open and could have won, then 16th and 69th, made three successive cuts for the first time for ages and had my best run for two years," said Struver, unwilling, however, to share the advice Vanstiphout has given him.

The winner gains a one-year exemption plus the remainder of this season's events.

Five Russian players are in the 156-field, while Irish interest will focus on Damien McGrane, Gary Cullen, Stephen Browne and Eamonn Brady.