Flooding holds up Scottish Open

The rain-hit Barclays Scottish Open had no play before 2pm at the earliest today after torrential overnight rain caused flooding on the Castle Stuart links near Inverness.

Conditions were so bad that spectators were not even being given access to the course while officials assessed the situation.

The tournament was already behind schedule, with two stoppages yesterday meaning that half the 156-strong field had still to complete their second rounds.

No announcement was being made until noon and there had to be a possibility that the pre-Open warm-up event would be cut from 72 holes.

Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and Scots Peter Whiteford and Scott Jamieson led overnight at 11 under par.

They were among the players who finished their second rounds yesterday, but the world’s top two Luke Donald and Lee Westwood – both seven under when play was called off for the day last night – had nine and seven holes to complete.