As summer weather continues to win its hide-and-seek game with Irish golfers, there is a little sadistic pleasure in the knowledge that it’s not all sunshine and lollipops for PGA Tour in North Carolina in August.
Tropical Storm Debby’s descension on Greensboro means that the opening round of the Wyndham Championship will, at best, commence at 3pm eastern time (8pm Irish) on Thursday. Up to eight inches of rain are expected in the area over the first two days, and with wind gusts that could reach 25-30 mph, it looks increasingly likely that a Monday finish or a reduction to 54 holes will be required.
As a precautionary measure, the PGA Tour announced on Wednesday evening that no fans would be permitted on the grounds of Sedgefield Country Club on Thursday, but the announcement that the start of play would also be delayed didn’t come until Thursday morning.
Shane Lowry was to be among the early starters as he looks to consolidate his position in the top-10 in the FedEx Cup rankings after this, the final regular event on the PGA Tour schedule, and wrap up the $1 million bonus payment that accompanies it.
Should the weather play ball and round one get underway at 3pm in Greensboro, Lowry will hit the course at 9:44pm Irish time, roughly three-and-a-half hours before sunset.
Seamus Power, who wasn’t due to tee off until 6:27pm, can rest up safe in the knowledge that, whatever happens, it’ll be Friday morning at the earliest before he heads to the first tee.
The first round of the Wyndham Championship is delayed due to Tropical Storm Debby. The first tee time will not be before 3 p.m. ET Thursday.
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) August 8, 2024
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