FATE struck a cruel blow yet again at the Benson and Hedges International Open this morning.

Bedevilled by bad weather over the past two years, thunder and lightning hit The Oxfordshire to disrupt the opening day's skirmishes and put a question mark on whether the first-round can be completed today.

It must have been a sickening sight for the organisers as the heavens opened, but, with the sun forecast to break through the storm clouds, play could well continue until late this evening.

The early starters, excluding defending champion Bernhard Langer, back home in Germany after withdrawing yesterday with neck trouble, were due out at 7.15am.

The start was initially put back to 9.45, but further heavy showers forced another rethink and officials were unable to give a new start time.

The delay will cause a huge headache for tournament officials, but such is the history of bad weather at this event, they should be used to dealing with it!

Title favourite Jose Maria Olazabal, part of a fascinating three-ball with fellow Ryder Cup stars Costantino Rocca and Lee Westwood, hadn't bargained for the sudden change in the elements.

"I haven't brought any special clothing with me, I just knew it was going to be wonderful weather this time," the Spanish star declared after playing 18 holes on Tuesday. It will be his first taste of the B & H at The Oxfordshire, which he described as a "wonderful golf course".

Adding cautiously: "It's a great test - a difficult track."

However, this morning's thunderstorms made it unlikely that the first round would be comple-ted by the end of the day.

Among the early starters kept waiting were Ian Woosnam and Lee Westwood, respectively second and third last year, and Olazabal, runner-up on his last two starts in the Spanish and Italian Opens.

Colin Montgomerie and Seve Ballesteros were teeing off later this afternoon.

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