Bad Start for the 2010 Ryder Cup

It was a bad start for both sides at the 2010 Ryder Cup in this regard: Heavy rains, howling winds, halted play.

It was a worse start for the American side, which trailed three of the four fourball matches before play weather stopped play only two hours into the first session, and which was having equipment problems. Here is how those matches stood at the time of the suspension of play:

• Lee Westwood/Martin Kaymer, Europe, led Phil Mickelson/Dustin Johnson, USA, 2-up through 5 holes
• Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell, Europe, led Stewart Cink/Matt Kuchar, USA, 1-up through 4 holes
• Ian Poulter/Ross Fisher, Europe, led Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods, USA, 1-up through 3 holes
• Bubba Watson/Jeff Overton, USA, led Luke Donald/Padraig Harrington, Europe, 2-up through 2 holes

Any delays at the Ryder Cup are problematic because there is almost no room for error in the playing schedule. If the event is to be completed on time - three days, finishing on Sunday - the weather must cooperate.

There is no chance that the team play won't spill into Sunday now, and that makes a Sunday finish iffy even if the weather is good from this point out. And good weather is not expected. The forecast currently calls for heavy rain on Sunday. We're probably already looking at a Monday finish, at least.

Which brings up another problem, but only for the US side: According to various reports, American players are unhappy with their rainsuits. No, not because of the way they look (although that might be the case as well). But because the rainsuits might not be so good at keeping them dry. Or it might be that the suits are becoming waterlogged and heavy. Or all of the above. Reports differ on the specifics.

But whatever the specific issues, the suits aren't getting the job done. Tiger Woods chose to go without the jacket on the first tee, preferring no rain jacket at all in heavy rain to the one provided by Team USA.

ESPN.com's Jason Sobel reported on his live blog that PGA of America members were seen today buying rainsuits off the rack in the on-site merchandise tent at Celtic Manor. Weather gear come with different levels of water-repellent features, and somebody made the wrong choice in the current suits.

A bad start for the 2010 Ryder Cup, but an even worse start for the US side.