NEWCASTLE professional Donna Southam said playing putt-putt golf at Royal Pines today would be fine, but wet weather is likely to play havoc with the start of the Australian Ladies Masters on the Gold Coast.
Southam battled through 13 holes of practice yesterday before succumbing to the driving rain and blustery winds that threaten to shorten the prestigious event to a 54-hole tournament starting tomorrow.
"The tees and greens are fine but the rest of the course is completely under water," Southam said. "I spoke briefly with a rules official and he said preferred lies will be a must and there is a chance it might be reduced to 54 holes.
"The greenkeepers are doing their best to get play started tomorrow. If it was putt-putt, we'd be fine."
Southam is scheduled to tee off at 11.30am alongside fellow Australians Bree Turnbull and Angela Harris.
Maitland professional Vikki Tutt will be joined by Sophie Giquel from France and Austria's Stafanie Michl.
Tuncurry's Sarah Kemp joins England's Rebecca Hudson and Korean Park Hee-young. Magenta Shores' Nikki Garrett will also contest the event.
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