Freak Weather Shortens Scottish Open

Mike Stewart announces decision

The entire third day's play at the Scottish Open was wiped out on Saturday after more heavy rain in Inverness hampered attempts to get back on schedule.

Attempts to resume round two of the tournament, which had already been cut from 72 holes to 54, ultimately proved fruitless as a result of freak weather conditions at the Castle Stuart Golf Links.

One final attempt was made at 7.30pm, but when the players returned to their positions on the course, there was too much water on the course.

Play must therefore resume at 7am on Sunday morning, with Scots Peter Whiteford and Scott Jamieson and also Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell still sharing the lead on 11 under par.

The conditions have been such that two fans suffered broken legs on Friday and there was also a landslide on the course after more storms overnight.

As a result, it was decided not to allow the crowd to watch on five of the holes by the Moray Firth.

"I have been up in this area for a long time, and we have courtesy car drivers who are 65 years old and haven't seen the like of this before," said Colin Montgomerie, who is five strokes off the pace.

"None of us has. It's very, very unfortunate for everyone concerned. A landslide - this land's been here for ever and it's never happened.

Extreme

"This is extreme, incredible, just freak conditions, end of the world stuff."

With possible start times being pushed back almost hourly from 2pm to 7.30pm, eight players - all of whom had little or no hope of surviving the cut in any case - decided to retire from the event.

Half the 156-strong field had been unable to complete their second rounds after Friday's play was hit by two hold-ups.

As well as Montgomerie, they included Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, battling for the world number one spot again and both seven under par overnight.

"It's unfortunate for us. The course will be very different - longer, softer and the balls will gather mud," said Montgomerie, who needs a top-five finish if he is to qualify for next week's Open for the 22nd successive year.

"I've been 21 years without a break at The Open. It's a proud record and I don't want that record to break, but I'm running out of time now, especially with only a three-round event."

Defending that particular decision, tournament director Mike Stewart stated: "We realised we were going to struggle with the weather today and the forecast is also poor for tomorrow.

"We just thought it was in the best interests of everyone concerned to reduce it to 54 holes."

European Tour rookie Jamieson currently stands as favourite to secure a place in the field at Royal St. Georges. McDowell and Whiteford had already secured their places.