Players practise on the putting green during a fog delay

With visibility down to 50m, tee times were repeatedly put back until tournament organisers decided to suspend play overnight.

The first round is now set to be held on Friday, with the same start times, with round two put back until Saturday.

The women's third major championship of the season will be completed with 36 holes on Sunday.

Heavy rain at the start of the week meant that spectators were barred from the venue on Monday and the wet conditions mean that the course is playing extremely long.

Sweden's world number one Annika Sorenstam, who won the event in 1995 and 1996, is favourite and could match Tiger Woods' tally of 10 majors if she wins in Rhode Island.

South Korean Birdie Kim defends the title at the Newport Country Club, while among the other leading stars in the richest tournament in the women's game is 16-year-old Michelle Wie.

Other contenders include Australia's Karrie Webb and South Korean Se Ri Pak, who each won one of the first two majors of the year, and world number three Lorena Ochoa of Mexico.