US PGA Championship 2016: Lightning causes third round delay

Thunderstorms shut down the PGA Championship on Saturday before 10 players could even hit a shot, setting up what could be a long, wet and wild conclusion to the final major of the year – whenever it ends.

Tied for the lead at 9-under par, they faced a 36-hole Sunday, provided the course could be ready by 7 a.m. It was his seventh straight round of 68 or better in the PGA Championship.

For example, Kevin Kisner (5-under overall) and Padraig Harrington (4-under) each shot 65 to surge into contention early Saturday.

Arguably the happiest player at Baltusrol was Scotland’s Russell Knox, who completed a 67 just seconds before play was suspended after spotting an official was about to blow the horn and rushing to tap in his par putt on the 18th.

Haigh called the situation “unfortunate” but added, “That will be an interesting dynamic, for sure”. “Add to the excitement, actually”.

With no redraw taking place after the third round in order to speed up play, Grace teed off more than two hours before the final pairing of Walker and Robert Streb and birdied the second, fourth and seventh to move to within two shots of the lead.

More thunderstorms are forecast Sunday and Monday, so Kerry Haigh, PGA of America’s chief championships officer, made a decision to keep third-round pairings for the fourth round and start it early to try and finish on Sunday.

“The forecast is similar to what it has been the previous two days, with a chance of rain in the afternoon, summer showers. But we got it”. “Unfortunately, today they hit us”.

It was the third time in five years that weather messed with the PGA Championship. Rain began to fall as the leaders finished the third round, though play kept going.

“I thought that as I had put in a lot of work the a year ago, I was excited about where my game was at and I’ve been shooting some really low scores this past week or two, not just from the British, but from there to here”, Mickelson said after shooting a 2-under 68 in Saturday’s third round to move to 1-under overall before play was suspended because of rain.

Streb, meanwhile, didn’t make his first birdie until the 17th hole, only to three-putt from just inside 8 feet for bogey on the 18th and a 72.

“Darren knows best and always tells me that, but it’s just difficult when every putt means a lot and it’s nearly one of those things where you try too hard”, Fitzpatrick said.

They could use plenty of rest, and a break in the weather. Harrington didn’t even think he played that well and still shot a 65, his lowest ever in a PGA Championship.

But with more rain in the forecast, and the course already drenched, it’s uncertain how much golf will be played on this suddenly vulnerable venue today.

“It would be really nice to get that second major under my belt”, Day said. It was wonderful, the best I played Thursday, is the worst score I shot.

“It all depends on what those guys do”, Kisner said. “The course is receptive enough”.

Phil Mickelson made the cut, and that might have been the most entertaining of all. He shot 68 Saturday and stands at 1-under 209. Wherever it finished, it was out-of-bounds, and Mickelson had to scramble for a triple bogey.