Golf: Rain washes away first round of Sony Open 2011
Rain stole the show in the first round of the Sony Open 2011 and forced the Professional Golf Association officials to call it off.
The opening round of the first full-field event of the season was washed away on Thursday due to torrential overnight rain at the Waialae Country Club. According to an estimate, it rained almost 4 inches.
PGA Tour Tournament Director Mark Russell addressed an official media briefing. He said, “The golf course is under water. We've got some more rain coming, and we just didn't think that we could get it in tournament condition today.”
Russell jokingly added that the fairways were waterlogged and the bunkers had turned into large lakes, ideal for fishing and boating. He also said that the Tour was thinking of conducting a swimming contest for the golfers.
The authorities had a fair idea about the weather. This is why they were completely prepared for the conditions. The golf club management had rain covers on golf bags lying in the locker rooms and there were extra towels in the same area, in case the conditions
got worse.
Initially, the pro-am was cancelled on Wednesday, but no one concluded that similar conditions could continue until the next morning. Due to the delay, the first two rounds will now take place on Friday and Saturday, whereas Sunday will witness a slight
change of layup. Instead of 18 holes, the players will compete for 36. However, the condition for the cut remains the same. Top 60 players will proceed towards the weekend and all 70 players will be paid for playing the tournament.
Russell also emphasised that the tournament would finish on Sunday and will not stretch a day ahead because of Bob Classic which is scheduled in the third week of January 2011.
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