Weather halts PGA Tour

INZAI, Japan — The second round of the US Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour’s inaugural Zozo Championship in Japan was postponed on Friday because of heavy rain with Tiger Woods and Gary Woodland leading the 78-player event.

Officials made the decision half an hour before the scheduled 7a.m. start after overnight showers turned heavy with forecasts of up to 130 millimeters rain falling over the next 24 hours at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club.

The second round will now be played on Saturday with a 6:30 a.m. start time followed by the third round.

“The golf course has already taken on four-tenths of an inch of rain, so it has actually reached the point of saturation and it’s become unplayable,” said Gary Young, US PGA Tour vice-president of rules and competitions.

“With more rain in the forecast and three to five inches of rain for the day, we thought the right decision was to call (off) play.”

Golfers will stay in the same three-ball groupings for the third round, which will begin immediately after completion of the second round, and continue until dusk Saturday at around 5:30 p.m.

“In our planning, that should leave us with approximately two hours of golf to complete on Sunday morning,” Young added.

The groups will be re-formed for Sunday’s fourth round, with leaders going out last at around 9 a.m. if there are no further delays.

“That should have us completing play somewhere around 4 p.m. (0700 GMT) and leave us a bit of room for a playoff,” said Young.

But PGA Tour meteorologist Stewart Williams said rain could return Sunday, possibly forcing an extra day. “If we’re not able to complete play by Sunday, we will go into Monday,” Young confirmed.

US Masters champion Woods got off to a terrible start Thursday before roaring back with nine birdies in 15 holes to share the lead with US Open champion Woodland.

Three over after three holes, Woods stormed back in stunning fashion for a six-under round of 64 and already had one eye on the weather and the possibility of extended play Saturday and Sunday.

“We’re going to have a long, long weekend of a lot of golf. Hopefully I can keep it going,” the 15-time major winner said.