PONTE VEDRA BEACH — It’s been said that “you’re still away” are the three worst words in golf. “Monday finish likely” might take exception.
That’s precisely what’s staring at the field at this week’s Players Championship, something that hasn’t happened at TPC Sawgrass since 2005. That year, play was suspended in the second, third and fourth rounds because of rain and unplayable conditions. The only reason it didn’t extend all the way to Tuesday was because Fred Funk holed a six-foot par putt at the 18th hole to win, avoiding a four-way playoff with Tom Lehman, Luke Donald and Joe Durant that would have had to been completed on Tuesday morning.
This time, we might not be so lucky. A horrendous weather forecast for Thursday, Friday and Saturday has loomed all week, with the Thursday part coming to fruition when tee times got pushed back a full hour in the opening round due to overnight rainfall and thunderstorms. Once play began, it lasted all of two hours and 15 minutes. At 11am, play was officially suspended due to dangerous weather, a delay that lasted four hours and 15 minutes. All told then, five hours and 15 minutes of weather delays played out and that was before most in the morning wave even came close to making the turn. When play ended due to darkness on Thursday, only 69 golfers had finished their rounds, Tommy Fleetwood and Tom Hoge leading with six-under 66s. Meanwhile, 17 players from the original afternoon wave didn’t tee off on Thursday.
Given the remarkable run of weather the PGA Tour had seen in the 2021-22 season, this was bound to happen soon. It happening in tour’s flagship event, though, is particularly cruel.
What hurts worse, though, is that the 2019 return of the event to March had been a roaring weather success, albeit in a small sample size. Not including the 2020’s COVID cancelation, only one of the eight competition days in the two completed March Players had truly “iffy” weather (final round, 2019), and even then it was just a light drizzle and some chilly temperatures, at least for Florida.
That said, history shows that March has been the worse weather month than the years the Players was played in May. There have been five Monday finishes at TPC Sawgrass, and all five have come in March.
Is it possible to avoid a sixth? Or worse, a Tuesday finish? Anything is possible with the right mindset. But here is how each of three possible outcomes might come to pass.
Glass-half full: Sunday finish
In order for this tournament to finish on Sunday, a couple of miracles things would have to occur. For starters, the Friday and Saturday forecasts would have to be wrong. Like comically wrong. As of now, both days are expected to be worse than Thursday. On Friday, per The Weather Channel, there’s a 90 per cent chance of rain in the morning and more thunderstorms expected. And, unlike Thursday, it doesn’t appear as though the afternoon will be much better, with scattered showers and thunderstorms expected. Saturday looks to be the worst of the four days, with a 100 per cent chance of rain all morning and a potential for “severe” thunderstorms. It is expected to clear up in the afternoon, so there’s that.
If all of that is somehow incorrect, it would still take an awful lot to get all 72 holes in after the delayed Thursday start. The afternoon wave from Thursday would have to keep it moving on Friday morning (not something PGA Tour pros are too fond of), and if they could complete the first round and get the second underway, they’d at least be on pace to complete the second round on Saturday. That opens up a chance for 36 holes to be played on Sunday by those who make the cut, assuming the tour doesn’t re-pair for the final round. Oh, and we gain an hour of daylight when the clocks spring forward Saturday night, which is going to come in handy no matter what. Also, while Sunday is expected to be freezing for Florida, with a high of 13C and a low of 9C, there’s no rain in the forecast! Yes, we do find the comedy in expecting you to trust the Sunday forecast but pray the Friday and Saturday forecasts are all sorts of wrong.
Glass-half empty: Monday finish
If Friday and Saturday are as bad as we’re being told, there’s a chance the first round is not completed until Saturday. If that happens to be Saturday afternoon, they’ll barely get the second round underway before it gets dark. Fortunately, as mentioned above, Sunday is clear, and the extra hour of daylight will allow for as many holes as possible. Whatever’s left should be able to be finished on Monday, too, as Monday’s forecast calls of a high of 20C and just a few clouds.
Glass-completely-bone-dry: Tuesday finish
Pessimists, unite. A Tuesday finish would mean Friday and/or Saturday were essentially a complete wash out. Minimal holes played, second round doesn’t start until Sunday, etc. Also, there’s always the threat of a playoff, just like there was back in 2005. Hopefully, someone channels their inner Fred Funk if such a situation were to arise.
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