It means an early start for the 32 remaining players chasing the title, and a potentially long day in store with both the second and third rounds now scheduled for today.

That will not worry one of Europe’s seven survivors, Darren Clarke, having undertaken a new fitness regime last year which has paid major dividends.

It was another rain-affected event which prompted Clarke to finally make a concerted effort to get in shape, last year’s US Masters bringing home to the Irishman the benefits of a healthier lifestyle.

Clarke led the field by three shots after an opening 66, but with Thursday’s play washed out, players had to squeeze in as many holes as possible on Friday and Saturday to get the tournament back on schedule.

That played a huge part in subsequent rounds of 76, 78 and 74 as Clarke slumped to a share of 28th place, 13 shots behind eventual champion Mike Weir.

“I knew part of the reason why I played so poorly after the first round was because I was not in shape,” admits Clarke, who has hired former rugby league international Steve Hampson as his personal trainer.

“I want to get in better shape and give myself a better chance to play well on a regular basis. I am in the gym six days a week, working out two hours a day.

“I am pretty much into it now and I want to keep getting better and stronger. I have only been doing it for six, seven months so there is a long way to go yet.”

Clarke won this title in 2000 by beating David Duval in the semi-final and Tiger Woods in the 36-hole final, and feels he will be much better equipped to cope with the physical demands if he manages to get that far again.

“It would be a huge difference,” added Clarke, the only player apart from Woods to have won more than one of the World Golf Championship events.

“If I was to go all the way this week then certainly I think I would be in a lot better shape to do that.”

Europe is certain to have at least two players in the third round with Clarke playing Germany’s Alex Cejka and Sweden’s Fredrik Jacobson facing Dane Thomas Bjorn.

The other matches involve American opposition, Padraig Harrington playing Bob Estes and Ian Poulter, the only one of five Englishmen to make it through, up against Duffy Waldorf.

Defending champion and top seed Tiger Woods, who scraped through on Wednesday against John Rollins, faces South Africa’s Trevor Immelman with the winner to face either Bjorn or Jacobson.