Golf: Wales Open washed out on day one

The first day’s play in the £1m Wales Open at Celtic Manor was washed out today with just 30 minutes play possible.

Only six players in the 150-man field were able to complete the first hole before play was suspended at 7:30am.

Tournament officials were hopeful of resuming play later in the day but the decision was taken to abandon play for the day around 1:30pm.

Play is scheduled to re-start at 7:30am tomorrow with the aim being to complete the first round, play the second round on Saturday and 36 holes on Sunday.

The downpour could not have come at a worse time for the organisers of Celtic Manor’s bid to host the 2009 Ryder Cup.

The Ryder Cup bid committee are visiting the venue this week to assess the bid which is in competition with Slaley Hall in Northumberland and one of four possible venues in Scotland.

Billionaire owner Terry Matthews has already committed around £50m to try and secure the biennial contest and is ready to spend another £12m on nine new holes and a new clubhouse for the Wentwood Hills course.

The new holes would be added to those already in use around the Usk valley and remove the need for the steep climb back to the current clubhouse from the 12th hole inwards.