BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. – Oakland Hills, baked out for the first two rounds, took a heavy soaking yesterday as more than a half-inch of rain forced the suspension of the third round with three groups yet to tee off.
The third round will restart at 7:15 a.m. today and is scheduled to be complete at 11:50 a.m. The final round will then be played in groups of three, using both the first and 10th tees. If there are no further weather delays, the tournament should conclude around 7 p.m.
The last three groups, who didn’t tee-off yesterday, where David Toms and Henrik Stenson, Ben Curtis and Justin Rose, and J.B. Holmes and Charlie Wi. They might all play 36 holes today to win the year’s last major, but the greens should be more receptive than they have been.
The issue of golf becoming an Olympic sport has been a hot topic at the 90th PGA Championship, which coincides with the opening of the Olympics in Beijing. Many of the golfers here say they would love the opportunity to play in the Olympics, and one of the biggest proponents is Phil Mickelson.
“I think having golf as an Olympic sport is exponentially more important to the game of golf than the majors,” Mickelson said this week.
The PGA Tour, the USGA, the LPGA and Augusta National are spear-heading a push to have golf included for the 2016 Summer Games. The initiative, led by former LPGA commissioner Ty Votaw, is still in its infancy stage, and whether it comes to fruition is anyone’s guess.
European captain Nick Faldo will have some tough decisions to make. Colin Montgomerie, a mainstay at the Ryder Cup, finished 20-over after two rounds and likely will have to be a captain’s pick to make the squad. Darren Clarke also missed the cut and will need to be a captain’s pick to represent Europe.