Europe's best chase last Ryder Cup spots

Torrential rain delayed the start of the World Golf Championship in Akron for over four hours yesterday. The tournament is the penultimate qualifying event for Europe's team for next month's Ryder Cup.

Torrential rain delayed the start of the World Golf Championship in Akron for over four hours yesterday. The tournament is the penultimate qualifying event for Europe's team for next month's Ryder Cup.

Darren Clarke is the defending champion and there are 20 Europeans competing for a first prize of US$1.2m (£650,000). Five of Europe's side will be determined on Sunday from a table based on world ranking points earned in the past year.

Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Darren Clarke, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Lee Westwood are in the best positions to claim those places.

Colin Montgomerie needs to finish in the top nine or will need a wild card from the Europe captain, Bernhard Langer, if he is to be part of the team.

And unless Luke Donald comes second and Jesper Parnevik wins, they too will be left with no hope of making the Ryder Cup squad other than as Langer selections.