SOTOGRANDE, Spain -- Padraig Harrington was unable to close the gap in his bid for the European Tour Order of Merit on Friday before heavy rain cut short the second round of the Volvo Masters.

Only three players in the 57-man field finished play, which will resume Saturday. Showers are expected through Sunday at the $5.37 million season finale. Twelve golfers were unable to tee off.

Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark, who leads Spain's Sergio Garcia by three shots at 6 under, had yet to start his round on a cold, wet, windy day at Valderrama.

Harrington, British Open and PGA Championship winner, was at par after 14 holes to stay six shots behind Lee Westwood and two behind money leader Robert Karlsson.

Harrington was at 5 over after 32 holes while Order of Merit long shot Miguel Angel Jimenez had a poor 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.

This is the 21st and final edition of the European Tour's season-ending event, which will switch to Dubai beginning in 2009.

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

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

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

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

Defending champion Justin Rose pulled out after shooting an 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.

The European Order of Merit race looks to be down to three after came a real cropper. Jimenez -- who let it be known to officials he did not think he should be on the course given the conditions -- dropped seven strokes in four holes before play was called off for the day.

With no placing and cleaning of the ball allowed -- European Tour Chief Referee John Paramor regretted that in hindsight -- Jimenez bogeyed the first and third, double-bogeyed the second and then ran up a triple-bogey 8.

European Tour rules do allow for holes played to be scrubbed out and rounds re-started -- that certainly would have suited Jimenez -- but Paramor stated that was not even considered because four hours' play had been possible.

"Miguel Angel did come in and voice his concerns," said Tournament Director David Garland. "He thought everybody should be playing in the same conditions at the same time and that play should never have started this morning.

"I would say that the course was playable this morning," he added. "Conditions were brutal, this is a very, very difficult course and it's not designed to be played in a 25mph wind and lashing rain. We had a forecast of the rain to pass through in three hours, but as soon as the front hit us it seemed to slow down and there was a lot more rain.

"It's not a clear run yet, but I'm hopeful of us still playing 72 holes. But 54 is a definite possibility and 36 is the least amount of holes for a tournament to count," he explained. "It's obviously in the lap of the Gods. It's unlikely we will schedule a full round for Monday, but we will finish a round then if necessary."

One big decision to be taken if the event is cut to two rounds is whether the prize money would be cut. It could, of course, decide the Order of Merit.

With a three-stroke lead over Garcia, Kjeldsen, of course, is in an even stronger position if he does not have to play three more rounds.

But the Dane, who lost a playoff to Rose last year, commented: "Leading or lying last, this is a disappointment. It's the last Volvo Masters and we wanted a nice tournament."

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