WGC Match Play: Snow in Arizona causes play to be suspended

Play on the first day of the WGC Match Play Championship was abandoned when heavy snowfall fell at desert state Arizona's Dove Mountain course.

None of Wednesday's matches were completed and 11 games did not tee off by the time play was suspended.

Englishman Ian Poulter said on Twitter: "What's the problem? Let's play. The caddies have just had a snowball fight. Never seen anything like it."

World number one Rory McIlroy said: "The weather is officially ridiculous."

Poulter, who won the tournament in 2010, was three up against Stephen Gallacher and Lee Westwood was two up against Rafael Cabrera Bello when a snow storm caused suspension of play after just four hours.

Almost two inches of snow covered the course, practice putting green and driving range at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Tuscon.

Frost is forecast for each remaining morning, although the weather is predicted to improve. Officials said the first round uld resume, weather-permitting, from 08:30 local (15:30 GMT) on Thursday with the second round scheduled to start from about noon.

McIlroy, who along with Tiger Woods and Luke Donald had not teed off yet, added: "This is unbelievable. Everyone knows it snowed here a couple of years ago but it was nothing like this.

"There are three or four inches on the putting green - It's ridiculous."

Jason Day, who was six up against Zach Johnson after 10 holes, said: "I have never actually played golf to the point where we have stopped for snow, which is kind of crazy.

"It is a little crazy for it to snow in the desert, as well. But that's just how it is. Mother Nature can just do whatever she wants. I was playing out there with four layers on.

"You could see from a distance that it was coming in. When those big snowflakes started to fall, there was no chance."

Although the tournament takes place in the desert, cooler weather at high altitude is not uncommon, and this is the second time in three years that wintry weather had forced a delay in play at Dove Mountain.

In 2011, almost an inch of snow covered the course with Donald going on to take victory once the snow had thawed out.