Play suspended at the Houston Open

HUMBLE, Texas, April 2 (UPI) -- Strong winds Thursday forced the suspension of the first round of the PGA Houston Open in Humble, Texas.

Wind gusts reached 35 mph and wind was causing golf balls to move on the greens at the Redstone Golf Course.

"We just couldn't conduct the competition so we had to call it," Vice President for Rules, Competition and Administration for the PGA Tour, Mark Russell, told reporters.

The tournament's start had been delayed more than two hours Thursday morning because of rain storms, but Friday's forecast is for better weather with winds of 10 mph.

Before play was called, the leader was Lee Westwood at 4-under par through nine holes.

"It was pretty tricky," Westwood said. "Once you got out in the exposed areas, it was blowing the ball away 10 feet at times. That's the time when it gets silly (and) there's no other option."