Mickelson red-faced as rain delays Scott's charge for victory

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Phil Mickelson was hit with an embarrassing two-stroke penalty at the Singapore Open yesterday after the US Masters champion was late for the resumption of the final round following a delay for bad weather.

Mickelson had returned to his hotel during a five-and-a-half-hour break as a result of thunderstorms and lightning. The American had been under the impression there would be no more play, when in fact players were sent back out for 90 minutes before darkness descended at the Sentosa Golf Club.

Adam Scott closed in on the title after he established a three-shot lead but the weather disruption meant the European Tour event would not be decided until this morning. Scott enters the final day on 17 under par with a three-stroke advantage over Ian Poulter. There had been nothing to separate Scott, Poulter and Kang Kyun-nam after three holes before thunderstorms caused the delay.

Scott, though, then picked up three birdies after the resumption to put daylight between himself and defending champion Poulter, while Kang had dropped to third on 13-under with the trophy now seemingly the Australian's to lose over the remaining 10 holes.

Graeme McDowell was in a tie for fourth, with Anders Hansen of Denmark, on 12-under after nine holes, a birdie at the sixth helping the Northern Irishman recover from two bogeys in three holes.