Deluge nearly washes out Ryder Cup's first day

Europe and America's finest players teed off in driving rain at about 7.45am only for play to be halted two hours later. The action resumed at 5pm and by the time the players trudged off for the final time, soon after 7pm, the US held the edge, being up in two of the four games, all square in one and down in one.

The American stars had earlier been forced into buying new waterproofs from the course's merchandising stall after discovering their official wet-weather clothing was letting the rain in.

Tournament officials are to rejig the competition format in an effort to finish as scheduled tomorrow night, but further downpours will almost certainly see the tournament extended into Monday – a first in its 83-year history.

Tens of thousands of fans who cowered beneath umbrellas waiting for play to resume yesterday have been told they are not entitled to a refund.