For the first time in the events history rain has forced the Barclays Scottish Open into being reduced to a 54-hole championship.
Heavy rain lashed the Inverness region very early on Saturday morning further postponing the restart to the already delayed second round in the event being played on the Castle Stuart course.
Top Scottish photographer Stuart Adams swaps his long lens for a fishing line on the flooded Castle Stuart pratice range. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
There was local flooding in and around the northern Scottish city with portions of the main A9 motorway closed due to dangerous driving conditions.
Seventy-eight players, among them the world’s top two ranked players in Luke Donald and Lee Westwood were among those affected when officials called a halt to play at 7pm on Friday night.
Play was set to resume at 7am local time Saturday but with rain still falling, and also lightning present in the region, that was then pushed back to 2pm, and later 3pm before being moved further back to 4pm.
Tournament Director Mike Stewart indicated: “”We did set an initial possible restarting time of 2pm but based on the information we got from the golf course and when we think we could be playable, we have pushed back this time to 3pm.
“We have now reviewed that and we will now restart, weather permitting, at 4pm.
“Our intentions now are to complete, or try to complete, the second round this afternoon and then to play the third round tomorrow.
“So we have decided in the best interests of the event to reduce the tournament to a 54-hole tournament.”
“We will endeavour to complete the second round today and then arrange for a one-tee start to play the third round tomorrow (Sunday).”
And Steward indicated, if necessary, the third round will proceed into Monday, if only to decide the new champion.
A total of 52 players competing in Scotland will also be contesting next Thursday’s starting British Open championship at Royal St. George’s.
However a number of those including 1985 Royal St. George’s winner, Sandy Lyle as well as recent British Amateur champion, Bryden MacPherson of Australia have already left Inverness knowing they will not make the expected four-under par cut.
Conditions of the course and surrounds were so poor spectators were stopped from entering the course while two of the three car parks were closed.
On course, there was severe flooding on many areas while greens staff had to deal with landslides on the first and 12th fairways.
Also staff have had to rebuild some footpaths, and spectators will not be allowed on the first , second, 10th, 11th and 12th holes.
Stewart confirmed also reports two spectators suffered leg injuries during the later stages of Friday’s play.
“We are taking every step that we can to ensure that all of the pathways are in good conditions as they can be,” added Stewart.
“But it is the nature of going to a golf tournament that there will be slopes and there will be slippery ground.”
However Stewart ruled out suggestions the fact the course is only two years old has been a factor the resultant effects to the course from the rain.
“This weather is completely unprecedented for the Tour and for Castle Stuart,” said Stewart.
“I don’t think we’ve ever seen anything like this before, and it’s just disappointing and so sad for everybody connected with the venue.
“If it happened in the middle of winter it would not be an issue, as the course is closed anyway.
“It’s such a shame it’s here in July”.
Championship Director, Peter Adams said: “We’re keeping the course closed until further notice, but are doing everything we can to make it playable and if we can ensure it is safe for everybody we will open later in the day.
“It’s such a shame because we were on course to have 50,000 people for the week. It might even have got up to 60,000 and if we had done that in the first year here it would have been fantastic.”
Three players – Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and the Scottish pair of Peter Whiteford and Scott Jamieson – head the field on 11-under par.
Of those who still have to complete their second round, Sweden’s Peter Hanson, England’s Barry Lane and Welshman Jamie Donaldson are the best placed at eight under par.
