The wind picked up as the day progressed at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J., west of New York City.
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Kerry Haigh, the PGA of America’s Chief Championships Officer, responded to criticism shortly after announcing the postponement. But when the horn blew for weather at 2:14 p.m., the excitement turned to a collective groan. Here are five things we learned at the PGA Championship Saturday.
Dubliner Padraig Harrington remains in the mix after rounds of 71 and 70 to sit one over par.
With sunrise at 5:52 a.m., the first tee time on Saturday easily could’ve been 7 a.m., which would’ve given the opening groups plenty of time for preparations prior to the round.
However, if play goes until Monday, which is quite likely, Saturday ticket holders will be granted admittance.
Players were to be texted Saturday evening for their fourth-round tee time.
Play in the 98th PGA Championship has been halted until Sunday morning, PGA officials announced on Saturday after thunderstorms had stopped Saturday’s third round for more than 3 1/2 hours. He responded there wasn’t much discussion about using that method. It was hoped the storm would pass and allow completion of the third round. Thursday was the day I played well. “Obviously if you get off to a bad start, you’re thinking about it, and vice versa is if you get off to a good start, you’re thinking about it, as well”, he said.
“Our primary aim is to try and finish (Sunday) evening”, Haigh explained.
Five-times major victor Mickelson, whose birdie putt for the elusive 62 at Royal Troon veered away from the cup at the last instant, bogeyed the first on Saturday, two strokes better than his self-described “horrendous” start on Friday, but came back with four birdies in posting his two-under 68. A HUUUUUUUUGGGE if, considering the Sunday forecast is horrific. They came back and finished Monday morning. Phil Mickelson won it with a birdie on the par-5 18th hole.
Of the 86 players to make the cut, only the top 10 had been unable to start when play was suspended and action will start earlier on the last day in order to finish the competition. There likely won’t be a repeat performance on his end.
Japan’s Yuta Ikeda led the Asian Tour charge after carding a second round three-under-par 67 to take a share of 13th place. His playing partner, Russell Knox, was the last one to complete his third round.
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Beware the major-winners: Jason Day, Henrik Stenson and Martin Kaymer plotted themselves square into contention, with Stenson seeking to win his second major in three weeks. Stenson trails the co-leaders by three.
