Big names struggle in Ohio as rain again proves a spoilsport

SOME of the best golfers in the world were seen at nothing like their best in Akron yesterday as the NEC World Championship tried and failed to make up for lost time.

Vijay Singh and Ernie Els, both of whom could end Tiger Woods' five-year reign as world number one this weekend, were paired together for the second round of the rain-hit event. But by the time play was called off at 4.30pm local time they had slumped to five over and eight par respectively.

With the field down to 75 players after the withdrawal of Swede Joakim Haeggman - he began with a 80 and aborted his last but one chance to get into the Ryder Cup team - US PGA champion Singh is down in joint 64th place and Els in a tie for 71st going into the weekend.