Weather 'could affect Ryder Cup schedule'

Two years after European captain Nick Faldo advised people to “bring their waterproofs” to the first Ryder Cup on Welsh soil, the second day of official practice took place in heavy rain at Celtic Manor today.

A forecast of more to follow for the match itself starting on Friday was bad enough, but the possibility of fog on Saturday morning will worry organisers more.

With the contest taking place in October, even a one-hour delay would mean the day’s play – fourballs and then foursomes – might not be completed before dark.

Friday’s event forecast is for rain “until mid-afternoon, then partly cloudy”.

On Saturday morning fog is possible, otherwise variable clouds and for Sunday’s concluding singles it is “variable clouds with isolated showers possible early and steadier rain likely by evening”.

Play on Friday and Saturday is due to start at 7.45am, but with the first of the singles not due to tee-off until 11.35am there is a chance for some games to finish before that if necessary.

That happened at Valderrama in 1997 following torrential rain.

Between 6pm last night and 10am, 15 millimetres of rain fell on the Twenty Ten Course and as the Americans started practising at 8.45am – Europe decided to wait until 10.30 because of the conditions – tournament director David Garland said that surface water was starting to appear in places.