Unpredictable weather continues to haunt this year’s Players Championship of the world’s best professional golfers in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. After more than half of the players, including Sepp Straka, were unable to finish their first round on Thursday due to the risk of thunderstorms, not much went on Friday either. Heavy rain flooded the greens. Straka and 46 other golfers now have to finish their first round on Saturday.
The 28-year-old Straka only completed 15 holes, 13 of them on Friday. Born in Vienna, he was two under par or shared 33rd place for the time being. The Brit Tommy Fleetwood was in the lead together with the US golfers Tom Hoge and Brice Garnett with 6 under par each. However, Garnett still had five holes to go in round one.
Tournament extended to Monday
On Saturday, due to stormy weather forecasts, the game will not resume before 11 a.m. local time. “Unfortunately, the weather conditions aren’t giving us any relief,” said chief referee Gary Young at Ponte Vedra Beach’s TPC Sawgrass on Friday followingnoon.
The multiple delays mean the PGA Tour’s $20 million flagship event won’t finish until Monday for the first time since 2005. No rain is forecast for Saturday followingnoon or Sunday, but instead cold temperatures and strong winds.