Winds blow Johnnie Walker off course

Strong winds meant only three and a half hours’ play was possible on the opening day of the £1.25m (€1.8m) Johnnie Walker Classic in Beijing today.

Gusts measured at up to 35mph forced play to be suspended at 10.15am local time (3.15am Irish time), with the first group out having completed just 13 holes.

And with no sign of improvement in the conditions, tournament officials called off play for the rest of the day at 3.20pm.

Weather permitting, play will resume at Pine Valley at 6.30am on Friday.

As well as moving balls on the green, the gusts were causing some of the world’s best players in a star-studded field to make some uncharacteristic mistakes.

World number three Ernie Els’ approach into the 18th green for example was blown way left of the green and led to a bogey five. That left the South African one over par after nine holes, four shots off the lead held by Australian Adam Scott.

Scott, playing in the group before Els, defied the blustery conditions to card three birdies on the back nine after starting on the 10th.

The 24-year-old had just parred the first when play was suspended, giving him a one-shot lead over France’s Jean-Francois Lucquin, Spain’s Jose Manuel Lara - playing with borrowed clubs after his were lost on the way to China – and Korea’s KJ Choi.

Playing alongside Scott, Sergio Garcia was a shot further back on one under after one birdie and nine pars.

Ryder Cup team-mates Paul Casey and Luke Donald were level par and two over respectively, while 2008 Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo was four over after going to the turn in 40.