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Play abandoned at Valderrama
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Play abandoned at Valderrama

Play was abandoned after four hours on the second day of the Volvo Masters due to heavy rain at Valderrama.

Tournament Director David Garland took the decision to abandon play for the day at 15.30hrs after halting it at 12.08hrs, meaning ten players had not even started their second rounds, including leaders Søren Kjeldsen and Sergio Garcia.

The heavy rain rendered the course unplayable, with fairways and a number of greens flooded. Garland said he was hopeful that play would restart at 8.30am on Saturday, although the final decision would rest with the Valderrama green staff.

He said: “We had a forecast of the rain to pass through this area in three hours and because the wind speed was strong, we didn't have that much rain forecast.  As soon as that front seemed to hit us, it seemed to slow down and that's why we've had such continual rain today.  There was a lot more rain that was forecast.

“The course was unplayable.  The fairways and a number of greens were flooded.  There was no relief from the fairways.  Sometimes relief had to be in the rough and behind trees, etc.

“We will hopefully  restart tomorrow morning at 08.30hrs on the golf course. It depends on the damage tonight if we can get the golf course ready for that time tomorrow.  We're very confident because of how good the Valderrama staff are.

“With five hours of play approximately remaining and, if we get away at 08.30hrs, we should finish by 1.30pm. Then hopefully we will have a redraw with a two tee start and three balls 14.00hrs to 15.30hrs, which may leave us with only two hours left to complete.

“That said, the forecast for tomorrow is for quite heavy showers and some of those may have thunder and lightning in them.  So it's not a clear run yet.”

In the battle for the Order of Merit title Miguel Angel Jiménez dropped seven strokes in the first four holes before the suspension came.

He has to win to stand any chance of claiming The Harry Vardon Trophy, with Padraig Harrington Robert Karlsson and Lee Westwood also battling for the crown.

Current Number One Karlsson was three over after four holes and Harrington five over after 13, while Westwood had yet to resume on one under.

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