The second round of the Volvo Masters Andalucia will commence at 8.15am on Saturday morning after play was abandoned on Friday without a ball being struck at Club de Golf Valderrama. Torrential rain and winds gusting up to 50mph resulted in the course being waterlogged.
Play is due to resume at 8.15 in threeballs from the first and tenth tees, with the third round commencing at 1.45 in the same draw order and from both tees. Weather permitting the third round should be completed on Sunday morning with the fourth round being played in time to meet the scheduled afternoon finish.
An inch and a half of rain fell on Valderrama during the day, taking the total to almost nine inches since Saturday. However the remarkable drainage properties at the course ensured that a full day’s play took place on Thursday and the prognosis for the rest of the event from the Met Office is encouraging.
Tournament Director, David Garland, commented: “I don’t think we will manage 36 holes tomorrow, with the leaders in the third round not going out until 3.15pm. We might have an hour and a half to play to finish off on Sunday and then do a re-draw for round four.
“We had a forecast of very high winds, which was the initial concern, and proved very accurate. That’s why we did not start the second round. With almost 50 millimetres of rain soon afterwards it has been impossible to play. There is a lot of standing water on the fairways and greens.”
Garland added: “It is supposed to be dry tomorrow with moderate winds and dry again on Sunday, so we are still very confident that we’ll get 72 holes finished by Sunday evening. A Monday finish is also a possibility.”
Three trees were blown over by the gusting winds while the golf balls were moving on the 11th green – the most exposed on the course – when officials tested the conditions.
Sweden’s Fredrik Jacobson held the lead after the first round with an eight under par 64. He tees off in the second round with Anders Hansen of Denmark (66) and Spaniard Carlos Rodiles (68).
