Second-round play at the Volvo Masters was abandoned this afternoon due to heavy rain and strong winds. The scheduled start was initially put back by four hours, following torrential overnight rain on an already sodden course, and organisers had to delay it further as winds gusted up to 80 kph.
However steady rain fell throughout the afternoon at Valderrama, forcing tournament officials to abandon play for the day at 2 p.m. Irish time.
Weather-permitting, rounds two and three will take place on Saturday, with the 57-strong field split into three-ball groupings with a two-tee start. However the weekend outlook is favourable, with dry and sunny spells expected.
Wednesday's pro-am had to be reduced to nine holes following torrential rain earlier in the week and preferred lies were in operation on the fairways for Thursday's first round.
Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson leads the European Tour's season-ending event by two shots after the opening round, having fired a brilliant eight-under-par 64 in tugging winds at Valderrama. Alone in second is Denmark's Anders Hansen, who produced a blemish-free 66, while Spaniard Carlos Rodiles is a further two strokes back in third.
Twice US Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal and Australian left-hander Nick O'Hern are tied for fourth on 70. Defending champion Colin Montgomerie, who shared last year's title with Bernhard Langer after they had squared the first two extra holes in gathering gloom, is among a group of eight players on 71.
The first round wasn't a particularly good one for the Irish contingent. Of the five players, Peter Lawrie fared the after a level-par 72, but still trails the pacesetter by eight strokes.