Nissan Will Be Watered Down Now

All you need to know about this year’s watershed Nissan Open is that Chad Campbell took the second-round lead at nine-under 133 on Friday and Adam Scott grabbed a share of the second-round lead ... on Sunday.

In what may go down as the drippiest PGA event since Noah’s BC Open, players squeezed out two rounds of golf in four days and will return today to see if anything more can be salvaged.

For now, Campbell and Scott share the 36 (sink)-hole lead at nine-under 133.

Darren Clarke and Brian Davis are one shot behind while Colin Montgomerie and J.L. Lewis are two shots back at 135.

Six players are bunched at 136.

That Monty?

Yes.

Montgomerie’s seven-under 64 on Sunday was low round of the day and the lowest the Scot has ever posted on American soil.

What happens next at Riviera Country Club, however, is up to tournament officials and Mother Nature.

Twelve of the 75 players who survived the cut were ordered out for third-round play in an afternoon downpour but didn’t get far before the all-ships-ashore foghorn sounded at 3:15 p.m.

Mark Russell, the PGA Tour’s tournament director, said the goal will be to complete a third round today and end this tournament at a rain-shortened 54 holes.

“We have to make every effort to play,” Russell said.

The forecast, however, was calling for as much as three more inches of rain overnight, which could leave Riviera beyond its saturation point.

If less than half the field completes the third round today, the tournament will probably revert to a 36-hole conclusion.

With Campbell and Scott sharing the lead in that scenario, organizers would attempt to find a playable hole, possibly even a par-three, and stage a one-hole playoff to determine the outcome.

While a 36-hole triumph would not count as an official PGA Tour victory, all the prize money would be allocated -- with $864,000 going to either Campbell or Scott.

If more than half the field completes the third round, it would have to be completed under tour rules, meaning the 79th Nissan could be extended into Tuesday.

Has this been strange or what?

Campbell, a 30-year-old Texan, was the leader in the clubhouse Friday afternoon after completing his second round and, because of numerous weather stoppages, did not take so much as a practice shot on Saturday or Sunday.

His first shot in three days could come today against Scott, in a playoff, for a ton of money.

“It’s tough,” Campbell said. “I finished up Friday just before dark and haven’t hit a shot since.”

Campbell didn’t play or practice Saturday because play was canceled. He arrived Sunday afternoon for his 4:30 tee time just in time to hear the horn sound that ended play for the day.

Campbell followed Sunday’s action from his hotel room via the Internet. He logged on to his computer and found out Scott had tied him at nine-under with a 20-foot birdie putt on his last hole of the day.

Campbell said he was preparing himself to play a full round today even though that seems unlikely.

Campbell also said he would rather play 18 holes today than win a winner-take-all playoff against Scott.

“If we only play 36 [holes], it’s not an official win,” Campbell explained.

It was not your typical PGA Tour weekend.

Davis, Thursday’s first-round leader, did not even begin his second round until Sunday. He shot two-under 69 and found himself one shot back.

“It is very hard because you have so many emotions going on,” Davis said. “Is it going to be three rounds? Is it going to be two? Is it going to be one? I basically played [today] as if it was going to be my last round.”

Tiger Woods, trying to win at Riviera for the first time, completed four holes of his second round Friday and was five under overall when play was halted.

Woods picked up his second round Sunday and was seven under, two shots behind Campbell, when he approached his final hole, the par-four 18th.

Woods knocked his second shot into the embankment, chipped to within nine feet and then three-putted for a double bogey.

He finished with a 70 and was at 137 overall, four shots behind.

Woods left Riviera without comment.

He started the week needing to finish fourth or better to regain the No. 1 world ranking from V.J. Singh, who did not enter the Nissan.

Woods is in 13th place after 36 holes.

Clarke shot 68 Sunday and is one shot back of Campbell and Scott.

Clarke, being from Northern Ireland, said he didn’t mind the lousy weather or extending his stay.

“I’ll come back any Monday if I have a chance to win a tournament,” Clarke said.

“I’ll come back Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.”

Scott, who seized a share of the lead on his final shot, factored the weather into his strategy, saying he approached his 20-foot putt thinking it might be the final hole of the event.

“I thought if you want to win this week you’ve got to be at least nine under by the end of Round 2, or whatever the lead was going to be,” Scott said.