News
Powerful storm wreaks havoc at the Players Championship as tournament suffers further delays
Play at Ponte Vedra Seashore’s TPC Sawgrass course has confronted extreme disruption because the event received underway on Thursday, with nearly three inches of rainfall throughout 48 hours.
Approaching what would usually be the event’s penultimate day on Saturday, 47 gamers are but to finish their first spherical.
Florida is at present underneath twister watch till 11 a.m. E.T Saturday — the earliest time the Tour mentioned play will resume — with prospects of tornadoes, winds of as much as 70 mph, and heavy rain the important thing considerations, in accordance with CNN climate’s crew.
Flooding attributable to further rain could possibly be notably disruptive for grounds workers at The Gamers — nicknamed ‘the fifth main’ for its status — and appears set to increase the event to, at a minimal, its first Monday end since 2005.
“Sadly, the climate situations will not be offering us any reduction,” Chief Referee Gary Younger mentioned on Friday.
“Our want is to not have anybody on the property at the moment,” added Younger, referring to the projected extreme climate system on Saturday. “We’re right into a Monday end. We all know that.”
The rain and extreme storm menace may have handed by noon Saturday, in accordance with the CNN climate crew, although temperatures will plummet and powerful winds of as much as 40 mph look set to delay difficulties for golfers.
‘Unplayable’
On the eve of the event, Younger mentioned organizers had been “assured” of their potential to navigate dangerous climate, but points started additionally instantly when in a single day rainfall delayed the beginning by an hour.
Play was resumed solely to be later suspended for over 4 hours as a consequence of harmful climate, Thursday finally concluding with 69 gamers — lower than half the sector — finishing their first spherical.
Friday noticed little enchancment — simply 22 extra gamers finishing their opening rounds earlier than heavy rain noticed play referred to as off after 4 hours.
“The golf course has reached some extent the place it is unplayable,” Younger mentioned Friday.
England’s Tommy Fleetwood sits stage with US pair Tom Hoge and Brice Garnett at six underneath heading into the eventual restart.
Fleetwood, one of many 69 gamers in a position to end their first spherical on Thursday, has gone two years and not using a victory, however made a wonderful begin with three straight birdies after the delay.
“I am happy to be in on that rating,” Fleetwood mentioned Thursday.
“I felt like I drove the ball nicely other than a pair, and I felt like I chipped and putted nice. For certain, that was essentially the most I might have gotten out of the spherical. So days like which might be very, very pleasing.”