Storm-Battered PGA Tour Event Enduring Historically Long Delay
Extreme weather conditions have forced the organizers of the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina to make history. For the first time since 2021, the PGA Tour has postponed an entire round due to severe weather. The last time such an action was taken was during Hurricane Henri in 2021, which forced the Northern Trust at Liberty National to push its fourth round to Monday.
The Wyndham Championship faced similar challenges when Tropical Storm Debby unleashed its fury on North Carolina, drenching the area with heavy rainfall and causing sustained winds of 15-25 mph and gusts up to 40 mph. The downpour began around 2:30 a.m. Thursday, resulting in approximately 2 inches of rain by 8 a.m. and creating an unsafe and unplayable environment.
The tournament organizers had no choice but to delay the start of the first round, initially hoping to resume play in the afternoon. The conditions, however, continued to worsen throughout the day, leading to the postponement of the entire round until Friday.
The clean-up efforts will be a significant undertaking for the on-site grounds crew of 60, as the golf course has been overwhelmed by the amount of rain. The tournament’s minders must also address damaged signage, fencing, and other debris while ensuring the infrastructure’s integrity.
Despite the Friday start, tournament officials remain hopeful that the event will conclude on Sunday, albeit potentially later than the customary 6 p.m. time slot. The weekend forecast appears favorable, and players are eager to make up for lost time, particularly those on the FedEx Cup Playoffs bubble who need to finish among the top 70 FedEx point finishers to advance to the first post-season event in Memphis next week.
The Wyndham Championship is a critical week for many players on the Tour, and the weather-related delay has added an unexpected layer of challenge. However, the tournament organizers and players are determined to complete the event and crown a champion.
