High winds force Dunhill abandonment

Gale-force winds, with gusts predicted to reach 70mph, forced play to be abandoned for the day at all three courses in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.

St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns were all declared unplayable and because of the format of the event it meant the third round would take place on Sunday and the final round on Monday.

The championship is a 168-team pro-celebrity with the cut coming after 54 holes and the leading 60 professionals and top 20 teams going through to the closing round at St Andrews.

Northern Irish pair Rory McIlroy and Michael Hoey were joint leaders with Scot Richie Ramsay on 11 under par.

McIlroy and Ramsay had still to play Kingsbarns, while Hoey’s third round was to be at St Andrews.

Playing in the team event with his father Gerry, 20-year-old McIlroy was due to be first off this morning, but after an initial 30-minute delay was announced the next news was that there was no chance of play all day.

The 24-hour delay caused travel headaches for no end of people, of course.

Ernie Els, for instance, plays the Presidents Cup in San Francisco starting on Thursday, while the Madrid Masters starts the same day.

McIlroy, whose father celebrates his 50th birthday on Monday, said: ``You can't argue with the decision. I think everyone can see that, especially here at Kingsbarns.

“I’m just looking at the ninth hole just now and with the way that wind is blowing you wouldn’t be able to get your ball near that green in three shots, never mind trying to putt on it.

“I think the forecast for the next two days is pretty good, so if we have to wait till Monday to finish then we have to wait.”

Ramsay said: “I think the right decision has been made. You look at some of the exposed greens on these courses and the balls are just blowing off in all directions, so you couldn’t play in that wind.

“I am struggling to keep my balance standing here at the moment. Plus if you put everyone out there and had to bring them on and off the course throughout the day it would be pretty tough to co-ordinate that with three courses.”