WGC Accenture World Matchplay 2013: conditions 'officially ridiculous' as snow stops play, says Rory McIlroy The officials had no choice but to inform the players and fans to return on Thursday. They did so comfortable in the knowledge that there will be ample time in the next four days to complete the 64-man event. "We don't foresee it being a problem," said the PGA Tour's vice president of rules. We've got a lot of leeway. This championship experienced snow on the morning of the final won by Luke Donald in 2011, but this was on a different level. "This weather is officially ridiculous," said Rory McIlroy. This is unbelievable. There were six matches fortunate enough to escape the elements and get under way. A chilly, windy morning had given way to farce and with his dislike of tough conditions McIlroy, in particular, would have been thankful for the break. In contrast, Lowry is one of golf's best wind players and would have been itching to get out there. It could be a completely different story today. Ian Poulter will be supremely confident of closing out his match against Scotland's Stephen Gallacher and so progressing past the first round for the first time since he won this title in 2010. The Englishman is three up with six holes remaining, having kept his head the better in the madness. Poulter struck a wedge to five feet to win the fourth, although uncharacteristically missed a six-foot putt on the next to hand it back. But with the gusts rising, Gallacher's game began to become ragged. Uncle Bernard, the three-time Ryder Cup captain, would have urged his family member to avoid giving holes away cheaply and would have been aghast to see Poulter win the 10th - despite losing a ball off the tee. Gallacher wildly sliced his second on the par four and ended up conceding the hole when his approach disappeared in the scrub. From there it verged on the comical. Gallacher, making his debut in the event, had earlier lost the sixth to a par and conceded the par-five eighth with Poulter on the green and Gallacher again out with the cacti. The 38-year-old was probably relieved to get off the course and will attempt a comeback on Thursday morning. As will the Thai Thongchai Jaidee who trails Spain's Sergio García by two with three remaining. Justin Rose enjoys a healthy lead over Korea's KJ Choi, the world No 6 putting impressively to steal two ahead through nine. Lee Westwood has the same advantage over the Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello after five holes, while Chris Wood is level with Bubba Watson after six. "It was like playing in Bristol in January," said Wood. In truth, this would even have seemed freakish in a West Country winter.