GOLF RYDER CUP:NO SWEET singing emanated from the valleys yesterday as a cantankerous weather system played havoc with the 38th Ryder Cup here. After years of planning, nature contrived to be belligerent. So the front resulted in seven hours and 18 minutes of play being lost in the opening fourballs, which remained unfinished as darkness closed in.

It all meant consternation for spectators, inconvenience to players and a drastic reshuffling of the format to produce a winner.

Indeed, it was a case of the goalposts being moved after the match started as officials decreed that, rather than the traditional five sessions, the match will instead feature only four in an attempt to ensure it doesn’t drag into a Monday finish.

That prospect Europe captain Colin Montgomerie described as “(arriving) after the Lord Mayor’s Show . . . I think it’s only right we try to finish this Ryder Cup on Sunday.”

It could prove to be wishful thinking, as yet another front is forecast to settle over the Usk Valley tomorrow morning. If and when this Ryder Cup comes to an end, it is more likely to be on Monday.

Drastic times called for drastic measures, and the upshot of the lengthy delay was a proposal that the opening series of fourballs will be followed by a session of six foursomes, then by a third session taking in four fourballs and two foursomes.

Then come the 12 singles – be that Sunday or Monday – to ensure there will be 28 matches, with the aim, as European Tour chief executive George O’Grady put it, to maintain “the integrity of the match”.

Intriguingly, what it means is that, once the first fourballs are completed, every player will be involved. No one will sit it out, nobody will be benched.

And it means the most anyone will play is four times, albeit crammed into a timeframe that will result in weary bodies and minds whenever the final destination is reached.

“I think it’s a very smart thing to do,” remarked US captain Corey Pavin of the revised format, adding: “Sitting out four guys is very brutal to do as a captain. In many ways, this makes it easier.”

On a miserably wet day when only 41 holes were completed, with all four fourballs unfinished, Pavin’s team returned from the enforced weather delay to finish up with a slight edge by the time a closing darkness enveloped the course.

By then, the US were up in two matches, down in one and all square in another.

It was a disruptive day. And while some players, like Ross Fisher and Rory McIlroy, hit the PlayStation to bide time (ironically enough playing Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2011), and others, like Pádraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell, snatched cat-naps on the bench in the team locker-room, the convoluted day finished with the momentum with the Americans.

Of the US team, nobody played better than Stewart Cink, a captain’s wild card who used his putter like a magic wand, sinking five birdies in 11 holes. His partner, Matt Kuchar, was often cast into the role of bystander as Cink, mainly, inveigled a way to come from one down at the time of the suspension in play to finish two-up on McIlroy and McDowell by the time play stopped.

Harrington and Luke Donald were also trailing, by one hole, against American rookies Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton after eight holes, though Donald will face a six-footer for birdie to halve the hole on his resumption.

Ian Poulter holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the 10th to ensure he and Ross Fisher were all-square with Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods.

“A very important putt, that will give us momentum,” said Monty.

Lee Westwood and US PGA champion Martin Kaymer were the only Europeans ahead, one up on Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson through 12 holes.

“This will ebb and flow for the next two days. I always said this was going to be close, and it’s proving that way right now,” said Montgomerie, his face showing suitable gravitas.

HOW THEY STAND

FIRST SESSION – FOURBALLS

L Westwood, M Kaymer 1 up on P Mickelson, D Johnson (after 12 holes)

R McIlroy, G McDowell 2 down to S Cink, M Kuchar (11)

I Poulter, R Fisher level with S Stricker, T Woods (10)

L Donald, P Harrington 1 down to B Watson, J Overton (8)

CHANGE TO FORMAT

Second session: Six foursomes

Third session: Two foursomes and four fourballs

Fourth session: Twelve singles