Ten Irishmen, including Philip Walton, Darren Clarke and Ronan Rafferty were among the wet and frustrated field that saw the first day's play in the European Co Sanctioned South African PGA abandoned in Johannesburg yesterday.

Ten days of torrential and relentless rain have left the city on flood alert. Houghton Golf Club, one of the country's best rated courses, sagged under standing water and was completely unplayable.

Sponsors Alfred Dunhill have said that the tournament will go ahead with the same purse £300,000 even if it is reduced to 36 holes, but the prospect of play starting on tomorrow also seems remote.