Golf: Petterson sets the pace

Sweden’s Carl Pettersson cruised to a four-shot lead in the wind-interrupted first round of the Algarve Portuguese Open at Vale do Lobo.

Pettersson took advantage of calm morning conditions to card a six-under-par 66, before a combination of heavy rain and gusting wind on the testing Anniversary lay-out sent scores soaring.

Play was suspended for just over two hours in mid-afternoon as the wind caused balls to move on the greens, particularly on those exposed surfaces close beside the Atlantic ocean.

Only seven of the 78 morning starters broke par, and everything from a two to a 10 was recorded on the scoreboard, both coming in the space of two holes from Costantino Rocca.

Starting on the 10th, Rocca made a birdie two on the treacherous cliff-side 224-yard par three 11th, but then ran up a sextuple-bogey 10 on the next.

After driving into rough on the 405-yard hole, Rocca proceeded to hit three balls in a row out of bounds - one with the unwanted assistance of a tree and one via a cart path - his eighth shot coming up just short of the green and two putts all adding up to a score familiar to many weekend hackers.

The Italian commendably regained his composure and played the remaining 15 holes in two under par to card a 75, amazingly in with a chance of making only his second cut in seven events this season.

The former Ryder Cup player, who famously beat Tiger Woods in the singles at Valderrama in 1997, has been in the money just once this season, finishing tied for 64th in the Heineken Classic in Melbourne.

In stark contrast, Pettersson has not missed a cut in nine events, and already has three top five finishes to his name, including third place behind compatriot Niclas Fasth and winner Ernie Els in the Dubai Desert Classic.

‘‘I found out it was no fun to miss the cut, especially when you live in America and can’t go home for the weekend!’’ said the North Carolina-based 24-year-old.

‘‘So the best option is not to miss one. I still live in Raleigh where I went to college and come over for four or five weeks at a time.

‘‘The weather and practice facilities are so good, I think I have an advantage. The other Swedish players can’t practice when they go home.

‘‘It’s a seven-and-a-half hour flight from Raleigh to London but it’s not too difficult. All you have to do is sit still!’’

Pettersson is hotly tipped to record a maiden victory this year, and added: ‘‘I know it is difficult to win but the way I’ve been playing it is definitely a possibility.

‘‘I am playing to win, I’m not playing to finish 20th. You have to have a bit of luck to win but mainly it is about stringing four rounds together. I tend to have three good ones and a 73 or 74.

‘‘I think I have to concentrate a little bit harder when I am not playing well. I’m going to work hard on that this week and really knuckle down and give 100%.’’

Pettersson was four clear of a four-way tie for second, Wales’ Bradley Dredge, English duo Gary Evans and David Gilford and former amateur champion Mikko Ilonen from Finland all carding 70s.

The delay meant the majority of the afternoon starters would not complete their first round today, and with a 156-man field, that would have a serious knock-on effect for the rest of the tournament with the second round also unlikely to be finished on schedule on Friday.