Strong winds play havoc

Strong winds caused havoc at the US$2.35 million Johnnie Walker Classic here today with half the field yet to begin their first rounds at Pine Valley Golf Resort and Country Club.

Tournament officials suspended play at 10.14 am when gusts of winds started to measure at over 51 kph, making conditions unplayable for the star-studded field. Play was eventually called off for the day at 3.15pm.

Australian Adam Scott (pictured), the world's number 10, heads the leaderboard where he expertly negotiated his opening 10 holes in three-under-par but there were several players who were running up big numbers.

Korea's Choi Kyung-ju was flying the Asian flag, battling to two-under-par through nine holes while the tournament's drawcard and two-time former champion Ernie Els of South Africa was one-over after nine.

Apart from balls moving on the greens, the high winds were also blowing some of the game's top stars off course. World number three Els saw his approach to the 18th green veer well left of his target which led to a bogey.

The 24-year-old Scott, who started from the 10th, birdied the par fives on the 13th and 16th as well as the par four 18th hole as he stayed bogey free before play was halted. His playing partner Sergio Garcia of Spain was one under par while Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, the third player in the group, struggled to cope with the difficult conditions, running up a double bogey and a bogey on the 16th and 17th and was two-over for his round.

"I've never played in such windy conditions except for one occasion in Korea," said Thongchai. "It was unplayable with the ball moving on the putting green at the sixth hole. I'm glad they called off play for the rest of the day as it was just too windy," added the current Asian Tour number one.

Europe's Ryder Cup heroes Paul Casey and Luke Donald were even par and two-over respectively while Chinese upcoming star Liang wen-chong, who was a member of Asia's victorious team in last week's Visa Dynasty Cup, was even par through nine holes and in better position than playing partners Nick Faldo, who was four-over, and Donald. The first groups out this morning had managed to complete only 13 holes.

Tournament officials eventually cancelled play for the day at 3.15pm. The players will resume their first rounds at 6.30am on Friday. The afternoon session players who did not start on Thursday will begin their first rounds from between 8am and 10am.

Tournament Director Mike Stewart said: "We had very strong winds this morning and from 9.45am, the intensity increased. The balls were moving on the first, sixth and 14th greens and we suspended play at 10.14 am. We monitored the winds and it averaged at 40kph and we tested the balls on the greens as well in regular intervals and they were moving.

"We will get the players out on the course pretty much as soon as they have finished their first rounds tomorrow morning. The 8am to 10am segment will turn around and go out first. We just have to keep playing golf whenever we can."

Officials expect round two to be completed on Saturday. Players will remain in three-ball groupings and play off two tees from the third round in an effort to complete 72 holes.

The Johnnie Walker Classic, Asia's richest event, is tri-sanctioned by the Asian, European and Australasian Tours.

April 21, 2005

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