Preferred lies being used in opening fourballs

STRAFFAN, Ireland, Sep 22 (Reuters) The heavy rain which has fallen on the K Club course this week prompted Ryder Cup officials to bring in preferred lies for the opening fourballs today.

''We will have four experienced referees, led by the European Tour's John Paramor, with the four matches to take a close look at the amount of mud on the balls and the amount of disturbance to the flight of the ball,'' chief referee Andy McFee said in a statement.

McFee added that a decision would be made later on whether to retain the preferred lies option for the afternoon foursomes.

According to the rules on preferred lies, a ball may be lifted without penalty and cleaned. Before hitting it, the player must mark its position.

Having lifted the ball, he must place it on a spot within six inches of and not nearer the hole than where it originally lay.

REUTERS PM SSC1333