• Singapore Open, Round One

Weather prevents Rory from hitting stride

Padraig Harrington may not win this week, but he is certainly on course to win Movember © Getty Images

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• Profile: Rory McIlroy

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Rory McIlroy made an unspectacular start to the Singapore Open on Thursday, trailing early leader Thomas Bjorn by five shots before play was suspended due to bad weather.

McIlroy, looking to clinch the Race to Dubai title with a win this week at Sentosa Golf Club, opened with a bogey as he struggled for consistency during the early part of his round - eventually sitting at level par for the eight holes he managed to complete before heavy rain and the possibility of lightning forced a suspension, and eventually the postponement, of play.

The Northern Irishman, who was flanked by girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki throughout his round, will now return at 7.30am local time to complete his remaining 10 holes before the second round gets underway.

He will be aiming to reel in clubhouse leader Bjorn, who took advantage of an early tee time to reach five-under par for the tournament - including a strong finish of three birdies in his closing six holes.

"I came here and saw the golf course, and knew that everything was about driving the golf ball well," Bjorn said afterwards. "It's not the longest golf course in the world so if you can keep it in the fairway, you can produce a score, and I did that very well today.

"That's only round one, so we'll work from here."

Three players are a single shot adrift of the Dane - England's Simon Khan, Pablo Martin and Chinnarat Phadungsil - with Paul Casey and past major winner YE Yang among a number of players well positioned at three-under.

Elsewhere, Adam Scott - the second highest ranked player in the field this week, behind McIlroy - failed to get off to a fast start, carding a level-par opening round of 71. The Australian, looking for his fourth career victory in this event, birdied his opening hole of the day but soon slipped back - only recovering on his back nine with a couple of late birdies.

The other high profile name in the field, playing partner Phil Mickelson, fared worse, however - the left-hander two-over after 18 holes thanks primarily to a double bogey at the short par-three 14th.

Louis Oosthuizen was level with the American after the eight holes he managed to get through on Thursday, with Francesco Molinari a shot worse off having completed a hole more.

Meanwhile, Padraig Harrington, sporting an impressive moustache in aid of 'Movember', has work to do to make the cut following a round of 74 that included a double bogey seven at the par-five fourth.

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