Golfers stunned after snow stops play in Arizona desert

The 18th green is covered in snow. Credit: REUTERS/Matt Sullivan

Rory McIlroy tweeted that it was "officially ridiculous", Ian Poulter said he had never seen anything like it and caddies enjoyed a snowball fight when wintry weather hit the Arizona desert.

Less than four hours of golf was possible at the Accenture Match Play Championship with Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods and Luke Donald all failing to tee off.

McIlroy tweeted:

Ian Poulter tweeted a picture of "at least two inches of snow" on his courtesy car and joked that play should continue.

Northern Irish golfer Graeme McDowell said he had only ever experienced such harsh conditions once before.

Golf spectators look for cover as snow forces suspension of play. Credit: REUTERS/Matt Sullivan

The forecast was for the snow to have cleared away overnight, but there was the possibility of early frost and that would delay things further.