The news came on a rainy and overcast day in Surrey when the majority of the field had completed their opening rounds. The R&A, of which the monarch was a patron, also paying tribute to the 96-year-old.

“We are greatly saddened to learn of the passing of Her Majesty today,” Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club Peter Forster said in a statement. “Following her accession in 1952, Her late Majesty graciously accepted the Patronage of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, as has been the custom of reigning Monarchs since HM King William IV in 1834.

“Although not a golfer, Her late Majesty’s 70-year patronage of the Club was a great honour for its Members. We hold His Majesty The King and all The Royal Family in our thoughts at this time of mourning.”

Before the suspension of play, with no firm timeline given for a return, Tommy Fleetwood, Andy Sullivan and Viktor Hovland shared the lead at the European circuit’s flagship event that had been largely overshadowed by the division in men’s professional golf relating to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour.

A screen displays a message on site at Wentworth upon the suspension of play. PHOTO: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

Northern Ireland's four-time major champion Rory McIlroy, one of the favourites for the title, has pulled no punches in criticising his former Ryder Cup colleagues who have jumped ship for the LIV Tour riches.

Fleetwood, topped the leaderboard with a superb eight-under 64, finishing with four successive birdies. He was joined by compatriot Andy Sullivan and Norwegian Viktor Hovland who made it a three-way tie for the lead when he made an eagle on the par-5 18th.

Another Englishman, Matthew Jordan, was a shot back in fourth after six birdies on the back nine propelled him to a seven-under 65.

Former Open Champion Shane Lowry, who described the presence of LIV golfers as "disruptive", carded a 66 and held a share of fifth place along with Australian Jason Scrivener among others.

The 33-year-old Scrivener began with bogey but then made four birdies on each nine, with a blemish on the 13th, to record a six-under score.

Compatriots Adam Scott, Maverick Antcliff and Lucas Herbert are three behind him while Scott Hend shot 70.

Of the LIV Tour contingent, Austria's Bernd Wiesberger and Mexican Abraham Ancer were the highest-placed on four-under before play was suspended.

McIlroy had said it would be "hard to stomach" playing alongside the likes of former Ryder Cup teammates Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia at Wentworth.

There was no disguising the tension in the air as the LIV Tour players began their rounds, but McIlroy let his golf do the talking as he opened with a four-under 68.

"I played okay, the rain was on and off and that made it tricky," McIlroy said. "But it's so soft, it's target practice out there. Four-under was fairly pedestrian."