The inaugural Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is almost certain to finish on Monday after fog and rain interrupted Saturday's third round. Bad weather forced a suspension in play on the Old Course at St. Andrews, at Carnoustie and Kingsbarns - the three venues hosting the inaugural event.
Just a handful of players on each course managed to begin the scheduled third round, including Ireland's Paul McGinley who parred the first two holes at Carnoustie to retain his two-shot overnight lead at 13 under par. McGinley, after rounds of 67 and 64, set the tournament's halfway pace with Zimbabwe's Tony Johnstone and Englishman Brian Davis in a tie for second place on 133.
"Our overriding objective is to complete four rounds and that means playing Monday, if we need to," said tournament director Peter German. "We won't be able to finish today at St. Andrews or Kingsbarns but we may at Carnoustie.
South Africa's Retief Goosen leads the European Tour money list by $650,000 from second-placed Darren Clarke but the prize money on offer for winning in Scotland this week could change that. Although third-placed Bernhard Langer cannot be regarded as a threat, as he now only has the end-of-season Volvo Masters left to play, fourth-ranked Padraig Harrington is also capable of overhauling Goosen with victory on Sunday.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
