World Match Play C'ship delayed

Heavy rain delayed the start of the second round of the Accenture Match Play Championship by more than two hours in California today.

The forecast overnight deluge duly arrived at La Costa yesterday evening and left parts of the course under water this morning.

Play was scheduled to start at 9.15am local time, but officials announced the action would not begin until 11.30am at the earliest.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington will be the first European in action when the 16 second round matches eventually get underway.

Harrington, who was first out yesterday against Japan’s Toshi Izawa, is out second today to face American Bob Estes, who needed extra holes to defeat Scott Verplank in the first round.

The Dubliner is one of seven Europeans to have made it to the last 32, eight others losing on the opening day.

He is joined by Colin Montgomerie, Ian Poulter, Darren Clarke, Thomas Bjorn, Fredrik Jacobson and Alex Cejka, and Europe is guaranteed two players in the third round with Bjorn facing Jacobson and Clarke taking on Cejka.

Montgomerie was two down with three to play against Nick Price, but won the next two holes and then birdied the second extra hole to set up a second round clash with American Stewart Cink.

The Scot was full of confidence afterwards, buoyed by the manner of his victory and the boost it will give to his battle to get back into the world’s top 50.

The former world number two began the week 57th in the current standings, outside the all-important top 50 which guarantees entry into major championships and the biggest and most lucrative events.

As things stand, the 40-year-old is not even exempt for this year’s British Open championship at his home course of Royal Troon, or the US Open he came so close to winning on three occasions.

“I was beating myself at two over par after 14 holes, which I’m good at in this event, so I am delighted to come back that way and win three of the last five holes,” said the former European number one.

“When I had to hole a putt on 16 and I did, and when I had a chance on the 20th hole I holed that, and that’s very satisfying.

“Don’t tell Stewart Cink but I feel one up on the first tee somehow, finishing that way.”

Montgomerie admitted his recent struggles have made him more appreciative of his phenomenally consistent form of the 1990s, and claims he would enjoy it more if he could get back to his peak.

Clarke, the winner here in 2000 and the only man apart from Tiger Woods to have won more than one World Golf Championship event, survived the second longest match in the event’s history in the first round.

The Irishman was two down with three to play against Argentina’s Eduardo Romero, but birdied the 16th and then chipped in for an eagle three on the 18th to take the match into extra holes.

Romero then missed two good chances for birdie to win the match before Clarke’s par four on the seventh extra hole was good enough for the win.

Only Mike Weir’s win on the 26th hole against Loren Roberts last year has lasted longer but Clarke was not alone in being taken to extra time.

Ian Poulter, the only one of five Englishmen to make it through, take on American Duffy Waldorf in the second round after beating Chris Riley by one hole yesterday.