Breaking news.. Due to more thunderstorms in the Inverness area any possibly stating time has been moved back to 7pm, or 2pm est..
The following is an earlier report from the principals involved at the Stuart Castle GL by the europeantour.com
The Barclays Scottish Open has been reduced to 54 holes after torrential rain, coupled with the forecast of further thunderstorms on Saturday afternoon, left Tournament Officials no option but to decide the championship over three rounds.
The second round is now scheduled to resume at 3pm this afternoon (Saturday), with the third and final round teeing off on Sunday, July 10.
More than 60 millimetres of rain fell in the space of five hours in the early part of Friday morning, leaving the site at Castle Stuart Golf Links at the mercy of mother nature.
The recovery of the site is underway, with the golf course itself holding up well despite the incessant rainfall. However, many of the spectator areas and walkways on the course have suffered badly, and parking facilities, including the public Park and Ride sites remain severely affected.
Mike Stewart, Tournament Director for the Barclays Scottish Open, said: “This has obviously had a dramatic impact on the playing surfaces. We have had a lot of flooding on the golf course and as I'm sure you all are aware we had some landslides as well on holes one and on 12, as well.
“The staff here have been absolutely superb, and they have done a great job over the last couple of hours or so in the drier conditions in repairing much of the damage that occurred earlier on today, and they are continuing as we speak to do the best they can to get the golf course ready and playable.
"As you are aware, we did set an initial possible starting time of 2.pm. But based on the information we got from the golf course and when we think we could be playable, we have pushed this time back to 3pm on the basis that we need a bit more time to get everything ready and ship shape for a start this afternoon.
“Our intentions now are to complete, or try to complete, the second round this afternoon and then to play the third round tomorrow. So we have decided that it's in the best interests of the event to reduce the tournament to a 54 hole tournament.”
Peter Adams, Championship Director for the Barclays Scottish Open, said: “Our role really is to make sure that everything is safe, really, for everybody that is coming to the golf course, if you like, outside the ropes.
“And when we arrived this morning, I think as most of you know, regrettably, most of the parking areas were pretty much under water. That includes the main public car park, the main bus turning circle for buses from Inverness, and also the spectator route ways on the golf course were in a bad state of repair.
“I'm pleased to say that we have had a team working on the parking situation, and we feel that we will be ready to actually have public come back this afternoon, if we get the golf underway.
"On the golf course, we have still got some work to do. We have got to rebuild some of the footpaths, and we are not going to be able to have spectators on holes one and two as well as holes 10, 11 and 12.”
As I mentioned earlier this morning this weather system is socked in for the weekend and in my opinion with well over half the field still on course, the next step is to call it quits after 36 holes.
Some of the late wave have only played 5 holes, round 2 will have to be completed tomorrow, with who knows how much rain to fall again overnight, and 2 more days of it on tap, the outlook is grim.
Tournament organizers have already been forced to close 1,2, 10,11,12 to the public due to the landslides, and with the car park under water and the possibility of unsafe walking areas, they are facing the very real prospect of not being able to ensure their safety..
For sure they will keep the field around until Sunday, to make every effort to get in 54, but I'm betting they will do well to get in 36, possibly in front of nobody !!
The old saying "Best laid plans of mice and men" comes to mind, but right now only mother nature can decide the fate of this 2011 Scottish Open..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
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