Third Round Delayed at PGA Championship Due to Lightning

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Weather disruptions affected the third round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club on Saturday. Play was delayed for over three hours due to lightning, with tee times adjusted to begin at 11:43 a.m. and using a split start format off both the first and tenth tees.

Following the second round, Venezuelan golfer Jhonattan Vegas held a two-stroke lead over Matt Fitzpatrick, Matthieu Pavon, and Si Woo Kim. Vegas’s solid form saw him achieve a total score of 10-under-par, despite a late double bogey in Round 2.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Max Homa were tied at 5-under-par, three strokes off the lead as they prepared for their third-round tee times. The cutline was set at 1-under-par after the second round, which eliminated several prominent players, including Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson.

Rory McIlroy, who recently won the Masters and aimed for a career Grand Slam, faced challenges throughout the tournament, starting with a first-round 74. He struggled with equipment issues, notably using a backup driver after his regular club was deemed non-conforming by the USGA.

The forecast for Saturday promised a 40 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms, creating uncertainty about further interruptions. Another significant factor was the ground conditions; most players were dealing with ‘mudballs’ as the PGA decided against allowing preferred lies due to improving weather throughout the week.

As the third round began, the PGA of America released pin placements for the final holes, indicating challenges ahead, particularly on the closing stretch that includes a complex hole on No. 16, positioned behind a bunker.

Vegas will take to the course with Pavon and Fitzpatrick, while Scheffler is playing alongside Homa and Kim. Both pairings expect a competitive atmosphere, given the stakes as they head into the weekend.