Kjeldsen leads in Spain as rain halts second round at Volvo

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SOTOGRANDE, Spain (AP) -- Padraig Harrington was unable to close the gap on his Order of Merit opponents Friday before rain suspended second-round play for the day at the Volvo Masters.

Only three players in the 57-man field were able to complete their rounds before torrential rain interrupted. Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark, who leads Spain's Sergio Garcia by three shots at 6 under, had yet to start his round. Play will resume Saturday at 8:30 a.m. (0730 GMT) local time.

Harrington's second round came to a halt with the Irishman on even par after 14 holes to stay six shots behind Lee Westwood and two back of Order of Merit leader Robert Karlsson.

The British Open and PGA Championship champion remained on 5 over after 32 holes while Order of Merit longshot Miguel Angel Jimenez had a disastrous start to the second round and was at 7 over after four holes to fall 15 shots behind Kjeldsen.

Karlsson was at 1 over after four holes in the cold and windy conditions at Valderrama, with 12 players unable to tee off. Showers are expected through Sunday at the 4.3-million euro ($5.37 million) season finale.

Harrington made two birdies within the first five holes, but dropped shots at the par-4 seventh and the par-3 12th.

Harrington can win his second Order of Merit title in three years with a victory here, as long as Karlsson finishing no higher than third. A runner-up placing would only be enough for Harrington if Karlsson is sixth or worse.

Westwood, who sits at 1 under, needs a victory with Karlsson outside the top three to take his second Order of Merit title and first in eight years.

Karlsson, who can become the first Swede to win the Harry Vardon trophy, dropped a shot at the par-5 fourth for the second straight day to sit 3 over before his day was halted.

Jimenez needs victory to have any chance in the four-way race.

Defending champion Justin Rose pulled out of the event after shooting a 10-over 81 for a two-day total of 19-over 161. The Englishman, last year's Order of Merit winner, flew to South Africa to be with his family following the death of his grandfather Donald.

England's Nick Dougherty went around the 6,988-yard course in 2-over 73 to sit at 9 over, while Spain's Alvaro Quiros was on 12 over after a 76.

This is the 21st and final edition of the tournament, as the European tour's season-ending event will switch to Dubai from 2009.