Rain allows for a little fun and recovery at Ryder Cup

Players from both teams monkeyed around during the interruptions on a wet first day but that allowed US to rally and take a narrow lead.

Europe’s Ross Fisher, right, and Steve Stricker, his opponent, are focused during the opening round of fourballs on day one.

NEWPORT, Wales // Workers scurried around the greens with squeegees, furiously pushing away water before every putt. Players sloshed down soaked fairways, desperately searching for any spot to hit that was somewhat dry. The Americans couldn't even stay dry in their gaudy rainsuits.

The Ryder Cup was halted for more than seven hours yesterday in the middle of fourball matches because of heavy rain that turned Celtic Manor into a water-logged mess, the first weather delay since 1997 and leading to a drastic schedule change in hopes of avoiding the first Monday finish. The United States made the most of the delay, rallying late to take a narrow lead by the end of play on a long day.

"The first thing I need is to find a hair dryer," joked Martin Kaymer, the PGA championship winner, who played the opening match for Europe with Lee Westwood. Play resumed at 5pm local timebut this will go down as the day it just kept raining and raining in Wales, hosting its first Ryder Cup. "It's a shame," Jeff Sluman, the US assistant captain, said. "There's 10 years of planning that went into this, and we're held hostage by the weather."

Phil Mickelson got going after play resumed, Stewart Cink kept rolling in long putts and the rookie team of Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton held its own. When play was halted, Cink and Matt Kuchar were 2 up on Rory McIlroy and US Open champion Graeme McDowell through 11 holes; Watson and Overton were 1 up on Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington through eight; and Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker were all square with Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher.

The only Americans trailing were Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, but even they left the course with a good feeling.

The Europeans had been leading three fourball matches when drenching showers halted play at midmorning. Celtic Manor spent more than $1 million on a complex drainage system, but it was no match for showers that turned the course into a version of Venice.

The Americans' start was bad enough. Even worse were the rainsuits they wore, a gaudy getup that looked more suited for basketball team warmups – and didn't work anyway. During the break, the PGA of America dispatched officials to the merchandise tent to buy up about 20 new suits in case it starts raining again this weekend, always a possibility in soggy Wales.

But the clouds finally broke late in the day and the US team was feeling a lot sunnier about the way things stood.

They lost three of the first six holes, with Lefty dumping his first shot after the break into a pond. But Johnson bailed him out with a birdie at the seventh, and Mickelson ripped off three birdies in a row around the turn to leave Lee Westwood and PGA championship winner Martin Kaymer only 1 up through 11 holes.

"It was tough day, a tough start," American captain Corey Pavin said. "Obviously I'm pleased with the way U.S. came back and performed this afternoon. I'm very proud of the guys."

His European counterpart, Colin Montgomerie, took heart from Poulter rolling in a clutch 15-foot putt at the 10th just before the last light faded away, giving the home team a bit of a boost. The Englishman turned toward what was left of the gallery and pumped his fist defiantly.

"We had a good first hour of play or something, and then that two hours of play there was obviously in the Americans' favor," Monty said. "But at the same time, there's no match that is anymore than 2 up or 2 down, so everyone is still in the game."

With no match settled on a day when eight points were supposed to be handed out, this will be remembered as the day it rained and rained and rained at the first Ryder Cup held in Wales.

* Associated Press