Play to resume at 1.30pm

Play in the 38th Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor is due to resume at 1.30pm today after heavy rain returned with a vengeance and caused another lengthy delay.

Six matches currently on the course – two foursomes and a quartet of fourballs - will restart following a hold-up of five-and-a-quarter hours.

Play was delayed on Friday’s opening day for more than seven hours due to the weather, meaning for the first time in the Ryder Cup’s 83-year history Monday play will be a necessity.

The 12 singles matches will begin tomorrow at 9.05am, giving the respective captains time to plan their orders overnight.

It is hoped the existing third session can be completed today, and there is a forecast of brighter weather this afternoon.

Assessing the early-morning problems, chief referee John Paramor said: “There is an enormous storm cell sitting out in the north Atlantic, the same one that affected us on Friday, and we are slap, bang in the middle of it.”

Europe currently trail the United States 6-4, but they lead in all six matches on the course and are favourites to be at least on level terms overall heading into the singles.

Play on the scheduled final day was delayed due to a waterlogged course, with standing water building in several key areas. The action had been due to start at 7.45am.

Spectators were set to be allowed in to Celtic Manor from 11am. They had originally been kept away from the course as the rain poured down.

As daylight broke, surface water could be seen on many parts of the course, meaning an inevitable delay.

Ryder Cup Europe released a statement confirming the rescheduled timings and that both captains - Colin Montgomerie and Corey Pavin - would be required to hand in their singles line-ups one hour after the end of session three.

“The current session of fourball and foursomes is scheduled to recommence at 1.30pm,” said organisers.

“Ryder Cup Europe would like to thank all spectators for their patience and consideration this morning, especially those who remained in their vehicles at the two park and ride locations.

“Ryder Cup Europe envisage that session three will be completed this afternoon, and with that being the case, the final session of singles will commence at 9.05am on Monday, October 4.

“The captains will be required to hand in their singles line-ups one hour following the end of session three.”

When play eventually resumes, Europe’s Lee Westwood and Luke Donald will continue four up after nine holes against Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods, while Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy are three up on Zach Johnson and Hunter Mahan through seven holes in foursomes games.

In the fourballs, Europe are two up in two and one up in the other two, putting them well on course to realise Montgomerie’s objective of at least an 8-8 match score heading into singles.

Ryder Cup Europe said that the public would not be able to buy tickets for tomorrow’s rescheduled singles.

“Ryder Cup Europe advises that only spectators with tickets valid for Sunday, October 3 will be admitted to Celtic Manor Resort on Monday, October 4 when the final series of singles is scheduled to start at 0905 on the Twenty Ten Course.

“Ryder Cup Europe further advises that the general public will not be able to purchase tickets for play on Monday, October 4.

“As was the case during the scheduled days of the 2010 Ryder Cup, there will be no access to any area of the Celtic Manor Resort for the general public who do not possess valid tickets for the match.”

That is likely to mean a smaller crowd than would have been the case had the singles concluded on schedule today, given many people will be back at work tomorrow.