THE Celtic Manor's bid to host the 2009 Ryder Cup was dealt a major blow yesterday when the first day of the Wales Open had to be abandoned because the course was waterlogged.

Six hours of solid rain over Newport left the Wentwood Hills course unplayable and in places unsafe.

The decision to put back the first round to 7.30am today was taken with the weather showing no signs of drying up.

It couldn't have come at a worse time for the resort who today are officially presenting their bid for the 2009 tournament to members of the Ryder Cup committee.

But Celtic Manor officials are trying to remain upbeat and denied that abandoning yesterday's play would harm their chances of being awarded the most prestigious event in golf.

"Obviously the decision was disappointing, but you can't control the weather," said Andy Stanton the Wales Open tournament chairman.

"It is a big day for us today with the Ryder Cup committe coming to hear our bid, but you have to remember that we have planning permission to modify the present course.

"The wettest parts of the course are on the opening holes and some of the closing ones - and they won't be part of the new course. The flat area, where we are adding another five holes, is drier than the elevated ones."

The Ryder Cup committee are due at the plush resort later today to assess its suitability. Welsh bid officials will show them around the course to show off its full potential.

Committee members will be taken up in a helicopter and shown a bird's eye view of the course. It should enable bid chiefs to show the changes they are planning to make.

Many top European Tour players have thrown their weight behind the resort's bid including Scotland's Andrew Oldcorn who believes the Celtic had the best facilities he had seen at a European Tour event.