ROBERT MACINTYRE and his Dunhill Links rivals face an all-or-nothing shootout for the title tomorrow after the tournament was cut to 54 holes.
That follows a farcical attempt to play the third round in 60mph winds today – a wildly optimistic plan that was abandoned after less than twenty minutes.
Ryder Cup star Robert MacIntyre only managed one shot today before play was suspended[/caption]
Louis Oosthuizen and Cameron Smith duck for cover during the delay[/caption]
That brought an angry backlash from frustrated spectators.
Many said the organisers should have recognised it was mission impossible, sparing them the expense and inconvenience of travelling to the three courses used for the Dunhill – St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie.
Gambling on play definitely going ahead today, and reserving Monday for the fourth round, was not an option after that PR disaster.
So the tournament has been shortened to three rounds – just as it was two years ago, when play was washed out on Saturday and Sunday, and Matt Fitzpatrick claimed the title in a Monday finish.
Another Monday finish cannot be ruled out, if the bad weather that has battered the west coast of Scotland for the past 24 hours continues.
The entire field of 164 players – and the same number of pro-am competitors – were spread out on the three courses yesterday.
They faced a rare shotgun start at 12.30, after nearly 30 players had returned at 8am to complete the second round. That was halted early on Friday, because torrential rain left the courses waterlogged.
There were two groups starting from the same tee on some holes. Including the MacIntyre-Tyrrell Hatton pairing.
The Ryder Cup stars teed off on the seventh at St Andrews, ten minutes after the English duo of Jordan Smith and Eddie Pepperell.
Scotland’s MacIntyre, the joint leader with South African Richard Sterne through 36 holes on 12 under par, pulled his tee shot into the light rough, while Hatton split the fairway.
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But the hooter sounded to end play before they even reached their balls. Play was eventually abandoned, and the third round will be re-started today, reverting to a two tee start, from the first and tenth holes.
The main excitement for the big crowd yesterday was provided by tennis star Andy Murray, who was playing alongside Pepperell.
The two handicapper was inches away from holing a forty footer for birdie on the seventh, tapping in for par just before play was scrapped.
That was not enough to satisfy the fans, who had come hoping to see MacIntyre move a step closer to a dream double, after his Scottish Open triumph last year. The organisers will hope he achieves that today, to deflect any further flak.
Play was suspended early during day three of the championship[/caption]
There are a number of celebs playing in the pro-am including Hollywood legend Bill Murray[/caption]
Sir Andy Murray is also amongst the competitors and chatted to fans during the pause[/caption]
