History is in the making at the Celtic Manor. But not the type of history Sir Terry Matthews was hoping his creation would conjure.
For the first time in its 83-year existence, the Ryder Cup is set for a fourth day. Rain has returned by the bucketload and play will only resume on at 1.30pm. The six matches on the course, the last of which is only through four holes, will be completed and the singles all played tomorrow with a 9.05am start.
At least some kind of event can be manufactured with the singles all starting tomorrow. No-one wants another day starting with matches potted around the course – the intense atmosphere around the first tee on Friday hasn’t been recreated since.
“This is a total disaster man,” said one American journalist. That is no hyperbole. Spectators were kept away from the course until 11am. Queues will be horrendous as fans try to board buses from the park and ride sites. The mud was awful yesterday, and yesterday, save a sharp shower, was dry.
Goodness knows what has become of the flanks along the 18th fairway – the banking that provides a wonderful natural viewpoint will now be as treacherous as the mudbanks of the River Usk.
A Monday finish is now certain. What an anti-climax that will be. The corporate hospitality boxes on the 16th and 18th holes will be deserted. How many fans will be able to turn up? Sunday ticket holders will be allowed back tomorrow but a new working week begins. The marshalls are all volunteers – who will manage the players, spectators, media etc around the course?
There are logistical nightmares too. The extra buses that have been employed to ferry everyone around will have to hang around another day. Americans have booked flights home. The weather quite literally has rained all over Celtic Manor’s parade.
