BREAKING: Start of US PGA Championship delayed by FROST at Oak Hill with Rory McIlroy and defending champion Justin Thomas among early starters in New York
Play was scheduled to start at 12pm BST on Thursday from Oak Hill Country ClubThe first round is scheduled to begin 1 hour and 15 minutes after the facilities open OAK HILL POINTERS: RIATH AL-SAMARRAI offers his tips for the US PGA Championship
The start of play at the 105th US PGA Championship has been delayed due to frost at Oak Hill Country Club, Rochester.
The tournament, the second major competition of the year, was due to start at 12:00 BST but has been temporarily halted after cold conditions overnight left ice on the grass, showing that the prediction was accurate.
The championship is scheduled to run from Thursday, May 18 to Sunday, May 21, with reigning champion Justin Thomas among the first starters on the course on Thursday.
The two-time winner will play alongside Rory McIlroy, ranked third on the PGA Tour but looking to end his majors drought, and 2021 Open winner Colin Morikawa.
Organizers released a statement Thursday morning that read: “Due to the freezing weather, all practice facilities at Oak Hill Country Club and the golf course are currently closed.
PGA Championship start delayed due to frost on Oak Hill turf
Defending champion Justin Thomas (pictured) was one of the early starters on Thursday
Images showed the course covered in frost with temperatures in Rochester around -1 degrees
“To protect the playing surfaces, everyone in the venue must stay off the grass and the gates will not be opened until the frost clears.
“Start time for the first round will begin approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes after practice facilities open.”
The possibility of weather delays had been raised since the US PGA moved from August to May 2019, as Oak Hill had already been selected as this year’s venue.
Speaking on Tuesday, Kerry Haigh, director of championships for the PGA of America, said: “Wherever the championship is (in May) it looks like it’s going to bring more variety to the weather than we’re used to when we’re playing in August.
‘There is a chance of a return to frost on Thursday morning. We had frost on Tuesday morning. Last week we had a couple of frosts. This can delay the start.
Competition organizers confirmed the delay on Twitter on the morning of the start
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy is looking to end his major drought at the US PGA Championship
Shane Lowry was hitting a pitch Thursday morning when he complained about the cold
‘I hope he doesn’t. But if it does, we will adapt.
“We have a chance of rain Saturday and hopefully clear Sunday. That’s kind of the fun of golf. It’s an outdoor game and we’re looking forward to seeing what Mother Nature brings as well.’
Ireland’s Shane Lowry was quick to comment on the temperatures as he showed off his hurley skills in a social media video.
Lowry hit a ball into a frost-covered Oak Hill, before turning to the camera, shaking hands and declaring, “Oh! It’s cold!”
