It’s been a wet and chilly start to the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black, and it doesn’t look like the rain is going to let up any time soon.
Tiger Woods made headlines on Monday morning for playing his practice round wearing a beanie over his hat. It was cold and rained throughout the day at Bethpage, and showers are expected to continue into Monday evening.
Tuesday is expected to be chilly, with temperatures hovering in the mid-to-high 40s coupled with a steady breeze blowing around 10 mph. More rain is expected on Tuesday evening.
The good news? The weather should improve by Thursday. On Wednesday, the temperature is forecast to rise significantly, to a high of 64 degrees. Evening rain on Wednesday may extend into Thursday morning, but after that, it should be partly cloudy skies and perfect spring temperatures in the mid-60s for the duration of the championship. The wind is expected to stay mild, at around 10-12 mph each day.
One hundred and fifty-six players are teeing it up on Long Island this week. Every single player in the top 100 world ranking is on site, except for one. Justin Thomas withdrew on Monday afternoon, citing a wrist injury. He’s been replaced by Kelly Kraft.
Tiger Woods is the current betting favorite, with 9/1 odds. The Big Cat is seeking his 16th major title and fifth career PGA. He has history on his side too: He won the 2002 U.S. Open when it was played at Bethpage.
Rory McIlory, Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson are a few other big-name players to keep an eye on. Koepka is the defending champ, while Rory has two PGA victories on his resume, though he hasn’t won a major since 2014. World No. 1 Dustin Johnson’s prodigious length is expected to give him a huge advantage when it comes to tackling the famously tough Black course.
The action begins on Thursday. You can find a full list of groupings and starting times here.
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