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Heavy winds have interupted play.
The players were finding conditions extremely difficult.
Just 4 players under par.

Good news is, Padraig Harrington is one of them, a joint leader at -1 after 12 holes. Average score is about +4, with one player on +11.

77 players have been on the course. The worry is that guys like Padraig put in great play under terrible conditions and then someone else gets easier conditions. That's golf though.

Looking at the scores, it is tough out there! McGinley grew up in wind but is 6 over after 13.

McGinley is just struggling lately.
Funny, he did very well when the points for Ryder Cup started.
He got so many points at the start that he virtually guaranteed his position. Since then he hasn't played well at all.
Same thing happened last Ryder Cup, except then he had to produce right at the end in order to make his way into the team.

I think his form will certainly improve for the Ryder Cup, because it is like his major.

I would expect Woosie to pick either HArrington or McGinley if they do not qualify.

Henrik STENSON
José Maria OLAZÁBAL
Sergio GARCIA
Colin MONTGOMERIE
Luke DONALD
David Howell
Paul Casey
Paul Mcginley
Paul Broadhurst
Nick Dougerty

are the ten in place ,with HArrington and Clarke top of the picks list.

Early days yet but I concur with you view. The Irish element will be crucial.

It is strange, that Harrington is outside the top 10, but I do think he is coming into some form. He just hasn't found consistant form yet.

That European team is very strong.

Two Irishmen on top of the leaderboard. Harrington and Hoey both at -1. Hope they play on in conditions like thay are because it shows what true Irish golf is like instead of poncy parkland.

Replace Broadhurst and Dougherty with Poulter and Jimenez or Owen , and it gets stronger

Well Dougherty is a strong player for the future, prefer him to Owen (Mr. Bad Luck at Bay Hill). Broadhurst had better get the flu and like not play for the rest of the season so he won't qualify, leave Paddy in instead!

Monty +5 after a 77.

Should he not have designed his course, more to his liking?

I don't see Owen playing the European tour and I am not sure he will finish top five from world rankings. Poulter seems keen to take part and he is coming over more frequently so he has a good chance if he puts in some good results to qualify through the Euro tour.

Constant rain and wind has blown it into a fifth day. This tournamnet seemed cursed all the way through ,with lousy weather,Munster in the rugby final,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Hmm, is Darren Clarke going to hold on?
I'm a bit annoyed at Harrington for slipping back to level par. He needs all the world ranking points he can get, and the kind of finishes like 15th that he has been consistantly getting give very few ranking points, whereas if he go even some top 5, it would really boost him.
Also, the Ryder Cup points would be great for him too, so come on Padraig, just half a round to go, make some birdies and get a top 5 place.

Yeah, I can't understand Padraig slipping back like he seems to have, as from what coverage we got he was playing as well as anyone else out there.

Darren is on a flyer, just hope that he can keep it up on Monday, & that Padraig Harrington can claw back a few shots to save grace.

Play has restarted, with most of the field having a fair few holes to complete. Clarke has dropped a shot, leads by one with 9 to play. It would be great for him and Ireland if he could grind it out (he just doesn't strike me a being a grinder though)