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Play stopped at Spanish Open

26/04/2007

The first day's play at the Spanish Open in Madrid has been interrupted by heavy rain.

Only 24 of the 156 players registered to play in the opening two rounds at the Centro Nacional de Golf were able to tee off on Thursday morning after a torrential downpour swept across the Spanish capital.

Play was stopped before Englishman David Lynn and Irish pair Damien McGrane and Peter Lawrie were able to start at their scheduled time of 08:40 local time (07:40 BST).

Six players managed to make it as far as the fourth tee, including England's Warren Bennett, Northern Irish amateur Rory McIlroy and legendary Scottish player Sandy Lyle.

Lyle birdied the par-four second and is one of six players tied for the lead on one-under-par, although most of the big-name players are yet to take to the course.

Paul McGinley, Ian Woosnam, Darren Clarke and Bradley Dredge are all due to take part and are yet to tee off, while France's Jean van der Velde and American Notah Begay III have played only one and two holes, respectively.

As a result of the extended delays in Madrid, play in the first round is likely to run over into a second day and could significantly disrupt the schedule.

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