Scottish Open shortened to 54 holes due to rain

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INVERNESS, Scotland (AP) -- The Scottish Open was reduced to a three-round event Saturday after torrential overnight rain flooded the Castle Stuart links course at Inverness and caused havoc with the playing schedule.

There will be no play on Saturday until at least 4 p.m. local time -- when half of the field will hope to complete their second rounds -- but the threat of more rain and thunderstorms could lead to the entire third day's play being wiped out.

Should the unfinished second-round groupings go out Saturday, spectators will not be allowed on the first three holes and Nos. 10 and 12 because of the state of the walkways. The third round and final is scheduled to take place on Sunday.

There is also the possibility of the tournament spilling over into Monday. The British Open -- the third major of the year -- starts Thursday.

Former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell was in a three-way share of the lead at 11 under with Scottish pair Peter Whiteford and Scott Jamieson. All three players finished their second rounds in dry, still conditions early on Friday.

Spain's Jose Manuel Lara was one shot adrift, with three players -- Argentina's Angel Cabrera, Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts and Scotland's Paul Lawrie -- at 9 under.

First-round leaders Lee Westwood of England and Mark Tullo of Chile, as well as No.1-ranked Luke Donald, were still to complete their second rounds. All three were on 7 under when play was stopped early Friday following the second of two stoppages because of thunderstorms and heavy rain.