Pete Dye’s diabolical design won’t be the only thing players have to successfully navigate if they want to win this week’s Players Championship. Weather will also play a significant role in deciding the victor at TPC Sawgrass with an ominous forecast predicting thunderstorms throughout the tournament.
The forecast calls for thunderstorms to batter the area throughout the day Thursday, with a similarly bleak outlook on the horizon for Friday and Saturday.
Officials evacuated the course Wednesday afternoon with storms approaching the area, and play was suspended at 11 a.m. ET during Thursday’s opening round for inclement weather as well.
“Due to approaching area thunderstorms, which may contain dangerous weather, play has been temporarily suspended at The Players,” the Tour said in a statement. “As a result of this decision, and out of an abundance of caution, all spectators should exit the premises for their safety.”
Saturday looks to be the worst day in the forecast with not only storms, but heavy winds and cool weather expected to arrive in the Jacksonville, Fla. area.
“Rain and thunderstorms are likely both Thursday and Friday as a frontal boundary drops into northern Florida and stalls,” Tour meteorologist Wade Stettner said, according to PGATour.com. “This front is forecast to bring periods of rain with embedded thunderstorms over the two-day period.”
And although rain is not expected on Sunday, temperatures are forecasted to significantly drop prior to the final round. Sunday’s forecasted high is just 54 degrees, with winds out of the NNE at 13 mph.
If 72 holes are not able to be completed by Sunday evening, a Monday finish is on the table.
Check out a detailed report of the week’s weather here.