PGA Tour: the PLAYERS Thursday leaderboard here
The Golf Channel has a new slogan about how they are the "leading source for golf coverage in the world" and I'm not here to debate that, but one of their production staff's biggest bugaboos are extended weather delays, and as I mentioned yesterday, just that was going to be the #1 story over this week's coverage..
Right on cue, the overnight rain caused a 1 hour delay to the 6.45am start this morning. When the early wave finally got going, it was dead flat calm, sullen, soft greens so the scoring was easy, while it lasted which was 12 holes at best with the leaders, Harold Varner, Tommy Fleetwood and Will Zalatoris at -4. 72 players have begun their rounds so far.
The horn blew just after 11am, play is now suspended until further notice, spectators being cleared from the course with Thunderstorms in the forecast.
The forecast calls for 80% chance T'Storms today wind 10-18mph W/SW.
Friday 90% chance of storms wind 6-12 mph wind E/SE
Saturday 90% chance of storms clearing out by noon as the cold front settles in bringing winds gusting 30 mph W/NW.
Sunday cold, high of 54*f or 11*c wind shifting to N/NE 12-22 mph
Canadians: Roger Sloan +1 thru 10 holes, Corey Connors E thru 6, Taylor Pendrith -1 thru 4.
Prediction: For sure all this bad weather means delay's, the question is how is this all going to end ?
With the richest purse in golf at $20m, $3.6 to the winner, the last thing they want is a 36 or 54 hole event. It's more than double any of the 4 majors. up $5m from last year.
Remember even last place gets $43,000 so all the players want the biggest share of the pot they can get.
They'd rather go to a Monday finish than reduce the holes, which TV hates due to the ratings drop off. However they may have no choice.
There will be a lot of backed up golf played in heavy winds on Saturday afternoon when the rain blows through, scores will soar.
Sunday will likely still be playing catch up, albeit in cold but less windy weather, likely off split tees, paired in 3's.
By Saturday night they will know whether they can get it all finished on Sunday, that will determine how they set the field out.
Consider this. Players are suddenly motivated to speed up play when faced with the choice of getting it all done on Sunday. Most have been here in the bad weather since Monday, and if not in contention, just want to get home..
Bryan Angus
No comments:
Post a Comment