Italian Open delayed by heavy rain

The start of the first round of the BMW Italian Open has been delayed as course workers try to repair damage caused by five days of unseasonable heavy rain.

Many of the fairways at The Royal Park Roveri course on the northern outskirts of Turin were left covered by pools of standing water.

The rain stopped before dawn Thursday, but a European Tour spokesman said there would be a delay of at least two hours while the course was made fit for play.