SANTO DA SERRA, Madeira Islands – The first round of the Madeira Islands Open was postponed after heavy fog prevented any play on the Santo da Serra course on Thursday.
Play was abandoned at 5 p.m. local time, leaving organizers hopeful of starting the European Tour’s 1,500th tournament on Friday.
While the capital Funchal was bathed in sunshine all day, visibility on the golf course, 700 meters (2,300 feet) above the city, was restricted to about 50 yards.
“It is a very unusual mini ecosystem here at this venue, and, while many of the holes on the course further down the mountain are clear, unfortunately some are still under fog,” tournament director Jose Maria Zamora said.