Austria Open delayed by downpour

The greens have been left underwater in Austria

Thursday's play at the Bank Austria Open in Vienna has been washed out without a shot being played.

Nearly three inches of rain during the past two days has left parts of Fontana Golf Club under water.

Tournament director Miguel Vidaor said: "The first round will be played on Friday, the same times as today, then round two will be played on Saturday.

"We will have to make a decision before the second round starts as to whether we go for four rounds or three rounds."

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New Zealand's Michael Campbell, England's David Howell and Scotland's Scott Drummond are among the competitors.

Play was scheduled to begin at 7.15am local time on Thursday but a torrential downpour from 5am onwards, on an already saturated course, meant play was impossible.

Vidaor added: "The players need to know before they go out for the second round if the cut is going to be altered and whether we are aiming to go three or four rounds. We will make that decision on Friday afternoon.

"If the weather forecast is perfect we might attempt four rounds but if the weather is dodgy on Sunday we might play it safe and play three rounds."

A Monday finish is a possibility but would present a number of logistical problems, especially with Euro 2008 about to start in Austria and Switzerland.

The tournament was originally scheduled to finish at 5pm on Sunday to coincide with Austria's opening game with Croatia in nearby Vienna.