Weather again plagues BellSouth

FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD US unless stated -4 B Mayfair (after13 holes) -3 S McCarron, JL Lewis, T Purdy, B Quigley (16), R Imada (Jpn, 11) -2 B Van Pelt, R Beem, J Huston (15), JM Olazabal (Sp, 15), T Ridings (13), H Tanihara (Jpn, 10)

Scott McCarron, JL Lewis and Ted Purdy hold the first-round clubhouse lead at the BellSouth Classic, which was once again hit by the weather.

After two days were washed out by rain, play was suspended for three hours on Saturday after hail and sleet storms.

And 63 players are yet to complete their first rounds at the pre-Masters event, which now looks certain to be reduced to 54 holes.

Americans McCarron, Lewis and Purdy all shot three-under-par 69s.

Their compatriot Billy Mayfair is on four under with five holes of his opening round still to play.

Masters champion Phil Mickelson is two over for 15 holes after two double bogeys caused by wild drives.

Leading European is two-time Masters winner Jose Maria Olazabal, who is joint sixth at two under with three to play.

Britons Phillip Price and Brian Davis shot 73 and 75 respectively. The plan had been to complete the first round on Saturday and the second round on Sunday, with the final 36 holes to be played on Monday.

Nine players have pulled out of the event, including England's Luke Donald, joint runner-up in the Players Championship, who withdrew on Thursday morning citing a sore shoulder.

Ian Woosnam, Chris DiMarco, Steve Flesch and Stuart Appleby all quit on Friday to avoid disrupting their Masters preparation.

European Ryder Cup captain Woosnam is not a member of the US Tour and had received a special invitation to play, but DiMarco, Flesch and Appleby could be fined for pulling out without an injury.

Tournament director Slugger White had said: "I think our players have an obligation to the BellSouth Classic. They have committed to play here and are expected to play here."