The Players Championship: Rain forces likely Monday day finish as ‘soaked’ course reaches an ‘unplayable point’
- ‘The golf course has just reached a point of saturation, and unfortunately the weather conditions are not providing us any relief,’ said tournament chief referee Gary Young
- Bad weather prevented 46 golfers from completing their first rounds, including defending champion Justin Thomas and 2019 winner Rory McIlroy
The PGA Tour’s flagship event will not finish as scheduled on Sunday given another day of rain that waterlogged the course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, on Friday and left organisers of The Players Championship targeting a Monday evening finish.
Play at TPC Sawgrass was suspended for the day on Friday and will not resume any earlier than 11am ET Saturday with 47 golfers still left to complete their first round.
“The golf course has just reached a point of saturation, and unfortunately the weather conditions are not providing us any relief,” PGA Tour chief referee Gary Young told reporters.
The Players Championship, where golfers are competing for a US$3.6 million first prize from a purse of $20 million, has had seven Monday finishes, the most recent coming in 2005. It has never concluded on a Tuesday.
Play was suspended Friday and ultimately called for the day with just 96 players having completed their first round.