Rain delays start in Atlanta

Torrential rain delayed the start of the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta today - the eighth US Tour event out of 14 this season to be affected by the weather.

A three-hour suspension was announced at the TPC at Sugarloaf course, but the forecast was for thunderstorms to continue into tomorrow.

For 25 of the players, the tournament is their final tune-up for next week’s Masters. They include defending Augusta champion Phil Mickelson, US Open champion Retief Goosen and Europeans Luke Donald, Ian Woosnam, Thomas Levet, Joakim Haeggman, Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Last week’s Players Championship in Florida had to be extended into a fifth day – and almost a sixth – while last month’s Nissan Open in California was the first US Tour event for nine years to be cut to 36 holes.

Another Monday finish is a possibility, even with next week being the first major championship of the year.

Mickelson said that was no problem for him. He went to Augusta on Tuesday to practise in peace and quiet and was not planning to go back there until next Tuesday.