Second round washed out in Shanghai

Nov 7, 2008 - 1:11 PM By Andrew Mullen Special to PA SportsTicker

SHANGHAI, China (Ticker) -- Friday's second round of the HSBC Champions on a waterlogged course at the Sheshan International Golf Club was suspended due to rain.

Following torrential rain overnight, the first tee-off time continually was pushed back throughout the day until the thought of playing finally was abandoned just before 2:00 p.m. local time.

Several players had appeared on the driving range while the grounds staff worked at clearing standing water from the fairways as the rain briefly subsided.

But the showers resumed, and with the forecast calling for worsening conditions, play was called off. The second round will begin at 6:45 a.m. local time on Saturday morning.

The weekend forecast is significantly better, but the leading players still are expected to have to complete their third rounds on Sunday morning.

Play only will be allowed to take place on Monday should the fourth round begin on Sunday.

Sweden's Henrik Stenson sits atop the leaderboard at the $5 million event after a 7-under-par 65 in the opening round. Stenson is one-stroke ahead of defending champion Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Anthony Kim and Adam Scott.

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell was the only player to brave the conditions this morning, spending over an hour on the driving range in a bid to tighten up his game following a 1-under 71 on Thursday.

"It is frustrating to come all the way out to Shanghai and have a course that is this well-presented and a big purse to play for," the world No. 33 McDowell said. "You can do everything you want, but you can't change the weather."

McDowell has enjoyed an extraordinary year, as wins at the inaugural Ballantine's Championship and The Barclays Scottish Open secured a Ryder Cup debut against the Untied States at Valhalla.

Despite finishing eighth at last week's season-ending Volvo Masters, which secured a career-high fifth-place finish on the European Tour Order of Merit, the 29-year-old McDowell still is seeking improvement with one eye on the new Race to Dubai.

"I didn't hit it particularly well yesterday, I didn't hit it particularly well last week at Valderrama, but also I wanted to get something done for the day, feel like I've done something and keep the work rate up," McDowell said. "There were a few things I wanted to work on."