Rain wrecks day one at Travelers

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June 24, 2011

Torrential rain has wrecked the opening day of the Travelers Championship at the TPC River Highlands in Connecticut, USA.

Torrential rain has wrecked the opening day of the US PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship at the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut.

More than one inch (2.5 centimetres) of rain pelted down on the course during morning thunderstorms and play was suspended before lunchtime and never resumed, forcing tournament organizers to reschedule the remainder of the opening round for Friday, when more foul weather is forecast.

“We got a little break and were ready to go and then we got another 25 minutes or so of rain and then we just lost the golf course. It had become unplayable,” PGA Tour vice president of rules and competition Mark Russell said.

“We went out there and the course was saturated and there were some areas where we just couldn’t play golf.”

“Instead of sending the players out there for maybe four holes we decided it was better to have everyone in place and ready to go tomorrow morning and we will play golf hopefully all day tomorrow.”

Only six players managed to finish their opening rounds with Kris Blanks leading in the clubhouse with a two-under-par 68 when play was suspended for the rest of the day.

But there were 21 players with better scores still out on the course, headed by American Michael Bradley, who was at six under, with two holes to play.

“The course is unplayable,” he said. “There’s a lot of water on the course. It’s going to be a little wet (Friday) but it’s two holes and I’m done.”

Bradley’s round featured seven birdies, including six in the eight holes between the sixth and 13th holes. His only blemish was a bogey at the par-4 fourth hole.

“My iron play and putting was good, I hit a lot of good iron shots and I putted well,” Bradley said. “I didn’t drive it that well on the front nine, but I started driving it a little better on the back nine.”

Bradley is searching for his fifth US PGA Tour title and his second this season, following his victory at the Puerto Rico Open.

He ended the day one shot ahead of a group of seven players at four-under, including Fiji’s former world number one Vijay Singh.

Defending champion Bubba Watson, was among dozens of players who did not even start their opening round.

Latest scores

68 Kris Blanks

69 Ben Curtis

70 Graham Delaet (Can)

71 Scott Stallings, Steve Elkington (Aus)

72 Paul Goydos

Note: The first round was suspended due to torrential rain. It will resume Friday at 7:00am local time, 150 players still to finish their rounds)

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