THE SIDELINES : Rains Shorten Spain’s World Cup

MARBELLA, Spain —  Torrential rains in southern Spain forced officials to cancel today’s second round of the 37th World Cup Golf tournament and shorten the tournament to 54 holes.

The decision to cut a round from the planned 72-hole tournament favors the Australian team of Wayne Grady and Peter Fowler, which held a seven-shot lead after Thursday’s first found, giving opponents from 31 countries less time to catch up.

Officials of the World Cup Golf match committee announced the decision before the start of play after early-morning rains drenched the Las Brisas Golf Club course.

Spain, with Jose Maria Olazabal shooting a 70 and Jose Maria Canizares a 71, was in second place at 141 and Sweden was third at 142.

Meanwhile, at Saitacho, Japan, Laura Davies of Britain fired a 3-under-par 69 to take a one stroke lead after the first round of the Daio Seishi Elleair Women’s Open today.

American Holly Hartley and two Japanese, Atsuko Hikage and Akemi Yamaoka, were next at 70.