PGA Championship Third Round Delayed by Weather

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Inclement weather has delayed the start of Saturday’s third round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club by more than three hours. Originally scheduled to begin at 8:15 a.m. ET, play was suspended due to lightning in the area.

The PGA of America announced that the 74 players who made the 36-hole cut will now begin play off split tees on holes 1 and 10, with threesomes starting at 11:43 a.m. ET. Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela, who holds a two-stroke lead, will tee off on hole 1 with Matthieu Pavon of France and Matt Fitzpatrick of England at 1:55 p.m. ET.

World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler will start on hole 1 at 1:44 p.m. ET, along with Xander Schauffele and Si Woo Kim, all at 5 under par. Masters champion Rory McIlroy, currently at 1 over par, will begin on hole 10 at 1:38 p.m. with defending PGA Championship winner Schauffele and Chris Kirk.

The heavy rain earlier this week left the course soaked, with over 4 inches reported. Scheffler and others expressed frustration with the PGA for not allowing preferred lies, which would have allowed them to improve their ball positions in wet conditions.

ESPN’s Michael Eaves reported live from the tournament, noting the weather’s impact on players’ schedules: “We’ve had multiple delays this morning due to lightning. It forced a new game plan,” said Eaves. “Players were preparing early in the morning only to find they won’t play until much later in the day.”

Two-time US Open champion Andy North reiterated the adjustments made due to the weather: “They were not going to get the whole field in playing twos, so the decision was made to alter the format,” North explained. “Some players, like Rory McIlroy, are certainly feeling the impact of the changes, having to start much later than expected.”

As conditions are expected to improve, players and fans alike are hopeful that the delayed third round will proceed smoothly.