Johnnie Walker Classic may be cut to 54 holes

The Johnnie Walker Classic could be reduced to 54 holes after only three-and-a-half hours play was possible on the opening day of the event in Beijing.

Gusts of wind measured at up to 35mph forced play to be suspended at 10.15am local time with the first group out having completed just 13 holes.

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.

Even with perfect conditions from now on, the second round will extend into Saturday and the third into Sunday, making a Monday finish or reduction to 54 holes a distinct possibility in the event of further problems.

Tournament director Mike Stewart insisted officials had done everything they could to make the course playable after viewing the long-range forecast.

“We were aware there was wind forecast this week but that was for the wind to be at its strongest on Tuesday,” Stewart said.

“If we could have foreseen what was going to happen we would probably have changed our regime but we cut down on the number of cuts of the greens and watered them the last two days.

“We have not tried to keep the greens fast. We have been trying to make them as playable as possible.”

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.