Date: November 01, 2008
Author:

Green cut short

Australian Richard Green has been forced off the course after three holes due to torrential rain in the second round of the Volvo Masters at Valderrama, Spain on Friday (UK Time). Green had slipped to three over and outside the top twenty before the persistent downpours and strong winds rendered the course unplayable. Fellow Australian Scott Strange is eight over and New Zealander Mark Brown is a further stroke behind. The European Order of Merit race looks to be down to three players after Miguel Angel Jimenez came a cropper in the shocking conditions. Needing to win the tournament to have a chance of the money list title, Jimenez – who let it be known to officials he did not think he should be on the course given the conditions – dropped seven strokes in four holes before play was called off. “It got worse and worse and it was unfair because who knows what conditions are going to be like tomorrow?” He said. “I think maybe the decision (to suspend play) should have been taken before. The ball was picking up mud.” Weather permitting, Jimenez will resume the second round tomorrow on nine over par, 15 adrift of leader Soren Kjeldsen, who was one of 10 players who did not even get to tee off. Only three of the 57-strong field completed 36 holes and with more downpours and thunderstorms in the weekend forecast there is a chance the Order of Merit will be decided over three rather than four rounds. Possibly even two. Current No.1 Robert Karlsson saw Jimenez&aposs collapse for himself and, by dropping just one stroke to finish on three over, remains favourite for the Harry Vardon Trophy. Nearest challenger Padraig Harrington, who requires a top-two finish, stands five over after 13 holes. Lee Westwood, who has to win, did not hit a ball all day and remains in joint fifth place on one under and is still a danger to the Swede. As for Justin Rose – defending champion both of the event and the money list – he was first out on his own again and failed to break 80 for the second day running. With no cut the 28-year-old, who was on 19 over and last by six after adding an 81 to his opening 80, vowed to &apossoldier on&apos over the weekend, but then was told his grandfather had died overnight. He withdrew and instantly made plans to fly to South Africa.