Lam leads in Singapore as big guns struggle
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Australia's Adam Scott fell foul to wet weather and snarly rough on the opening day of the $5 million Singapore Open on Thursday as big guns Phil Mickelson and Padraig Harrington also struggled to get going.
The city-state's own Lam Chih Bing made the best of challenging conditions on Sentosa Island, which ranged from lightning and torrential rain to bright bursts of tropical sunshine, to lead the field with a four-under-par 67.
Play was suspended around midday local time due to the stormy weather and resumed at 1415 (0615 GMT). South African Ernie Els was among the late starters and was one of 71 players who will have to complete their first round on Friday.
Els was three-under-par after 13 holes at the Serapong Course.
World number 17 Scott was left fuming after carding a five-over 76 and scythed silently through ranks of reporters and autograph hunters waiting for him after his round.
Scott beat Els in a playoff in 2006, his second victory in succession, and the 28-year-old from Adelaide is looking to become the first player to record a hat-trick of Singapore Open titles.
TERRIBLE START
Irishman Harrington, winner of the British Open and PGA Championship this year, finished the day five strokes behind at 1 under, with Mickelson a shot further back.
The American, who relinquished his world number two ranking to Spain's Sergio Garcia at the HSBC Champions earlier this week, will start the second round six shots behind the leader but was happy not to be further back.
"I know 2-over par doesn't sound good but I'll actually take it," the three-times major winner said.
"I got off to a terrible start, I was three over early. The conditions, although calm and beautiful right now, when we were playing they were windy with some rain so it was a lot tougher."
The lefthander said his usually formidable short game was not up to scratch: "This was the worst chipping round in years that I can remember."
Harrington, who got off to a good start but posted three bogeys on the way home, acknowledged that the weather had made things tough but refused to blame them for his average start.
"I'd be very happy if I played the same way for the next three days and I'm sure at some stage I'll start holing a few putts and making a few things happen," he said.
Leader Lam declared himself happy to be looking down at some of the best players in the world.
"My main goal right now is still to piece together four solid rounds. Obviously I want to do well this week," said Lam.
Organizers of Asia's richest open, with $792,500 going to the winner, have been forced to come up with contingency plans for potential weather delays and have met to discuss the possibility of a potential spillover into next week.
"A firm decision has been taken that if the third round is started, the...Open will definitely go to 72 holes, even if that means a Monday finish," they said in a statement.
Should weather forecasts suggest weekend play will be disrupted by lightning, organizers would review the situation and possibly reduce the tournament to 54 holes "in the interest of player and spectator safety."
(Editing by Alan Baldwin)
