Play called for wind in Qatar; tourney reduced to 54 holes

Golf Betting Lines

02/03/2012 - Doha, Qatar (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The heavy wind that sent scores soaring in round one, became too much in round two.

The second round of the Qatar Masters was suspended on Friday due to high winds and unplayable conditions at Doha Golf Club. Officials shortened the championship to 54 holes.

Half of the field teed off in round two, but no one completed the round. Everyone will return on Saturday to complete the second round. Play begins at 8:45 a.m. local time.

"The course is still on the verge of playable, but there's no point sending the guys out for an hour or two on a marginal course," said tournament director David Probyn. "The winds will be down a notch tomorrow and decreasing during the day, while the forecast for Sunday is for much calmer conditions."

John Daly is the leader at five-under par, although the two-time major winner, who has no status on the PGA Tour and indicated on Thursday he will focus on the European Tour this year. did not hit a shot on Friday.

First-round leader Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano recorded two bogeys in his first seven holes and fell into a tie for second place at four-under par. Jason Day is even through six, K.J. Choi hasn't teed off and the pair joined Fernandez- Castano at minus-four.

"I hope tomorrow I can take advantage of the remaining 10 holes I have," said Fernandez-Castano. "I didn't have any balls moving, but certain shots you could hardly keep balanced. Being selfish I'm quite happy play was called off."

David Lynn is two-under par through nine holes of his second round. He shares fifth place with Nicolas Colsaerts, 1999 British Open champion Paul Lawrie, Peter Hanson and Richard Finch, all of whom have yet to begin their second rounds.

World No. 3 Lee Westwood is two-over on Friday and fell to one-over par for the championship. Martin Kaymer, the No. 4 player in the world, is one-under par and didn't strike a shot.

All was not lost on Friday for Branden Grace, the two-time winner already this year. The leader in the Race to Dubai birdied his first three holes Friday, added another at the 15th, his sixth of the round, and shot into a tie for 15th at one-under par.

Damien McGrane is five-under through his first nine and vaulted up 66 spots into a tie for 48th at plus-one.

Defending champion Thomas Bjorn is actually one-under in round two, but six- over for the tournament.

NOTES: The 36-hole is currently at one-over par, although that can certainly change with so much of the second round still to be played...Jose Manuel Lara withdrew on Friday.

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