Lightning halts play at Hazeltine National

On the course where a golf fan was killed by lightning during the 1991 United States Open, play was suspended after less than 90 minutes of the USPGA championship.

Tiger Woods and Ernie Els had just hit one shot each when the sirens sounded at Hazeltine National, the scene of Tony Jacklin's 1970 US Open victory.

Both looked surprised because it had not even started raining at that stage, but dark clouds were just behind them and clearly, with the memory of 11 years ago, no chances were being taken by officials.

All the players were brought back to the clubhouse and were there by the time the storm duly arrived, while spectators were busy trying to find their own shelter.

Colin Montgomerie, Sergio Garcia, Ian Woosnam and Paul Lawrie were also among those forced to call a halt to their starts.

Montgomerie had parred the first three holes of the back nine and had seen playing partner Lee Janzen birdie the 410-yard 10th to share the lead with fellow Americans Fuzzy Zoeller and Jerry Kelly and also New Zealander Craig Perks, winner of the Players Championship in Florida in March.

Garcia and Lawrie parred the first two holes, but Woosnam bogeyed the 435-yard second.