Rain A Factor Again in Singapore Open


For the second straight day rain halted play in the European Tour's $6 million Singapore Open that's taking place on the Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club.

After 78 players were forced to return Friday to complete their first rounds, it was déjà vu all over again Friday afternoon as thunderstorms came in to stop play. Half the field was unable to even tee off on their second 18 holes and no one was able to finish the second round.

This isn't an uncommon "feature" of the tournament; last year, the event was reduced to three rounds and a Monday playoff was necessary to decide the winner (Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez Castano).

Before the course was vacated, Thailand's Chapchai Nirat and England's Simon Dyson sat atop the leaderboard at 6-under. Dyson, who opened with a 69, had finished 13 holes in the second round, while Nirat - who completed a 65 in the morning - only nine.

The leader before the first day's cancellation, Thomas Bjorn, who shot his 5-under 66 Thursday, did not tee off in the second round before it was postponed until Saturday.

After getting in his first eight holes Thursday, No. 1-ranked Rory McIlroy played 10 more in the morning for a 1-under 70, then immediately started his second round. Suffering from he called a cold or sinus infection, the 23-year-old Northern Irishman posted three birdies, a bogey and a double on the par-4 13th (his fourth hole in the second round) and remained at 1-under through 12 holes of the second round.

"All these stoppages are very frustrating, but then there is not much you can do about it as this is the weather they get here in Singapore at this time of year," said McIlroy, who with a high finish this week will be in prime position to duplicate Luke Donald's unprecedented 2011 feat by winning the money titles on both the PGA and European tours.

Organizers are also frustrated with the stop-and-start nature of the tournament. Chris Jordan, senior vice president of event promoter World Sport Group, said Barclays will not be the sponsor next year and, depending on the new sponsor, the event might be shifted to a part of the year when it's less rainy.

"Frankly, as far as I'm concerned all bets are off," Jordan said. "Nothing's a given but we will look at dates because seriously, we can't afford to have too much bad luck on one date anymore."

Tournament director Jose Maria Zamora said organizers hope to complete all 72 holes by Sunday. With more rain delays, however, Zamora added the tournament could - for the second year in a row - be reduced to 54 holes or the fourth round could take place Monday.

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2012/tournamentid=2012088/leaderboard/index.html.