Golf: Rain a pain in Lyon

The Novotel Perrier French Open again fell foul of the weather this morning and now looks like being reduced to a 54-hole tournament at best.

Four hours of play were lost on Thursday morning and play ended early yesterday evening after persistent rain eventually waterlogged the Sangliers course at Lyon Golf Club.

The second round was scheduled to restart this morning with half of the 150-man field still to finish and some players having only played five holes.

But yet more rain last night and today meant the start was put back to at least noon with an even later start on the cards.

The weather forecast did not offer too much hope for the conditions necessary to dry out the saturated course and could result in the tournament being reduced to 36 holes.