PLAYA DEL CARMEN, November 14, 2013 (AFP) - "The biggest thing was the lightning threat and the rain we received," Slugger White, the PGA Tour's vice president of rules and competitions said.
"We absolutely lost the golf course. With this rain it just knocked us out."
Play was halted twice. After a delay of just over an hour in the morning, play resumed for three hours. More pounding rain prompted an second suspension and play was never resumed.
The first round is scheduled to resume on Friday morning, but Friday's forecast is for more inclement weather.
"We'll just grind through it again," White said.
Brian Stuard, who finished second in Mexico in 2010, was atop the leaderboard at five-under par through 15 holes on the El Camaleon course.
Fellow American Erik Compton and Mexico's Alvaro Quiros were a stroke back, Compton through 17 holes and Quiros through 15.
Australian Matt Jones, Will MacKenzie and Len Mattiace shared the clubhouse lead on two-under 69, but most of those scheduled to tee off on Thursday afternoon never made it onto the course.