Europe had established early control in yesterday morning’s opening four-ball matches at the Ryder Cup when play was suspended because of unplayable conditions at a waterlogged Celtic Manor Resort.
With heavier rain expected to sweep across the Twenty Ten course later in the day, there was little chance of the afternoon’s foursomes matches being completed.
Europe led holders the US in three of the four encounters out on the course when play was halted with large pools of water forming on the fairways and greens.
It was the first suspension of play at the Ryder Cup since the 1997 edition at Valderrama, Spain.
The pace of play was tediously slow as the greenkeepers struggled to squeegee every green before the players putted out.
British world No. 3 Lee Westwood and USPGA champion Martin Kaymer were two up on Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson in the top match after five holes.
Northern Irishmen Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell were one-up on Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar after four, while Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker trailed Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher by one hole after three.
In the bottom match, US rookies Jeff Overton and Bubba Watson were two up on Britain’s Luke Donald and Irishman Padraig Harrington after two holes.
The 38th Ryder Cup began in pouring rain and driving wind with huge galleries chanting their support for both teams.
Westwood recorded the first birdie of the session when he knocked in a six-footer at the par-five second to put the Europeans one-up. Mickelson and Johnson each then bogeyed the par-four fourth.
In the second match, McDowell won the opening hole for Europe with a two-putt par, before 2009 Open champion Cink rolled in a 40-foot birdie effort at the third.
However, Europe regained a one-up advantage when the US failed to par the fourth.
Englishman Fisher, one of six rookies in the home team, gave Europe another early advantage with a winning par at the first, but world No. 1 Woods responded with a four-foot birdie putt at the second.
Poulter, who had whipped up the European fans into a frenzy on the first tee, then rolled in a 30-footer to birdie the third and regain control.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the first session was the hot early form by US rookies Overton and Watson in the bottom match.
Overton sank a 40-foot birdie putt from a hollow behind the first green to put the US one-up, before Watson doubled their advantage with a five-footer for birdie at the second.
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