The PGA Players Championship only had four hours of play on Friday before rain saturated the ground at the TPC Sawgrass course. This second day of bad weather forces the organizers to extend the first major tournament of the season until Monday.
Looking at weather reports that call for rain and gusts overnight, the PGA Tour said there was no chance the shutdown could occur before Sunday.
On Friday, the round was suspended at 11:15 a.m. Weather conditions and forecasts were so dire that the resumption of the first round could not be postponed until 11:00 a.m. Saturday. And that is in the best of scenarios.
“The course has just reached its saturation point and unfortunately the weather conditions are not helping us,” explained the head referee of the Players Championship, Gary Young.
Puddles appeared on the greens after play stopped and the rain continued to pour down on the field. Young said the Stadium course — laid out on a former marsh by architect Pete Dye — received about three inches of water in 36 to 48 hours.
Thus, it will be the eighth time in the history of the Players Championship, that is to say since 1974, that the tournament will crown its winner on a Monday. This is a first since 2005. Each time the tournament has concluded on a Monday, it has taken place in March. This major tournament was presented in May for 12 years before returning to its initial period in 2019.
But we have never known such chaos.
The initial round was delayed an hour initially, then suspended for four hours fifteen minutes. Thursday ended with Ian Poulter running from the tee box to the 17th green to make sure he had time to play his 18th and allow his group to finish their round before dark.
Chances are Poulter won’t hit another ball until Sunday morning.
Only 96 of the 144 golfers competing have been able to play 18 holes so far.
Tommy Fleetwood and Tom Hoge were able to complete their round on Thursday with a 66 each, at 6 under. At best, they will begin their second round late Saturday afternoon.
Brice Garnett eagled from the fourth fairway and will be at 6-under with five holes to play when he returns to work on Saturday.
Daniel Berger was among a group of players at 5 under and gave the first sign that the conclusion of the opening round might have to wait. Just short of the green on a par five on the 11th hole, he called out to an official because of a puddle of water where he expected his ball to land.
Maintenance staff had to be called in to remove the water, which required another delay. Jordan Spieth’s second shot in the 12th fell into a water hole. The golfer remained near the marking of his ball while the staff busied himself with drying up the puddle.
Dustin Johnson had three birdies on his first four holes and was playing 32 before the soggy greens played tricks on him and forced him to commit three bogeys.
Berger, he knew how to adapt. He wedged a 40-foot putt for the birdie from around the green on the 12th. Then, he followed up with a magnificent 50-foot approach putt on the 13th before finishing with two birdies on 18 feet and 15 feet to finish at 5 under.
Johnson was at 4 under when he left the 16th green in the pouring rain. Johnson was one of the fastest players on the circuit, before he hit the green, but not that day. He took his time as he peered down the 17th green through the rain.
He reached into his bag to put on a raincoat. He knew very well that the bell announcing the suspension of the patrol would be heard at any moment. She was just a little too late. He finally sent his ball close to the cup and smirked.
The round was suspended just before he executed his putt.
Rain delay stuff pic.twitter.com/CdgsK2wyR8
— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) March 11, 2022
