Dangerous weather delays start, forces re-grouping at PGA

Dangerous weather delays start, forces re-grouping at PGA

Organisers were forced to redraw pairings into threesomes to try and complete play before sunset.

Rory McIlroy AP 170525
World No 2 Rory McIlroy was set to start in the second group when the warning horn blew. (AP pic)
CHARLOTTE:
Dangerous weather near Quail Hollow delayed the start of today’s third round of the PGA Championship and forced organisers to redraw pairings into threesomes to try and complete play before sunset.

Americans Sam Burns and Max Greyserman were about to tee off at the first hole at 8.15am when the weather warning horn sounded to signal everyone should seek shelter.

About 45 minutes after the delay began, the PGA of America announced the third round groups would be re-drawn and played in threesomes off the first and 10th tees starting at 11.43am through 1.55pm in a bid to complete the round before it becomes too dark to play.

World No 2 Rory McIlroy, who won the Masters last month to complete a career Grand Slam, and third-ranked Xander Schauffele, the defending champion and reigning British Open champion, were set to start in the second group and were on their way to the first tee from the practice area when the horn blew.

Instead, they will be joined by American Chris Kirk and tee off in the penultimate group off the 10th tee at 1.38pm.

McIlroy, who has won four times at Quail Hollow, and Schauffele scrambled yesterday just to make the cut on the number at one-over par 143 and stood nine strokes adrift of leader Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela.

Vegas was on eight-under 134 and after the re-draw was set to tee off in the final group on the first hole at 1.55pm with France’s Matthieu Pavon and England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, who both share second on 136 with South Korean Kim Si-woo.

Kim was set for a 1.44pm start off the first tee alongside the two Americans tied for fifth, Max Homa and world No 1 Scottie Scheffler.

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