At any time when the PGA Tour suspends play resulting from climate, heavy rain, thunder, and lightning are normally concerned.
However on Thursday at Torrey Pines, the notorious Southern California winds reached some extent of no return — the tour needed to cease the second spherical as gusts exceeded 35 miles per hour. Balls started to maneuver on the greens, and match officers don’t have any alternative however to sound the horn at any time when that occurs.
Thursday’s scoring averages mirror how tough circumstances grew to become too. On the South Course, which has hosted the U.S. Open twice, gamers averaged 75.430, greater than three pictures greater than what gamers averaged throughout Spherical 1 (72.360). The identical mantra applies to the better North Course. On Thursday, scores averaged 75.570 on the North, whereas Wednesday’s first spherical produced a scoring common of 70.220 — a large five-shot distinction hardly ever seen.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever performed Torrey on this a lot wind earlier than,” mentioned Joel Dahmen throughout a walk-and-talk interview on the Golf Channel broadcast.
“We have now Santa Ana winds coming in from the east, and from time to time, we get a change off the ocean, which has been tremendous unusual at present. Actually tough to plan and that is simply survival mode out right here at present.”
Solely 49 gamers of this 156-player discipline are underneath par and simply 15 gamers have accomplished 36 holes as of the suspension. Ludvig Åberg nonetheless leads, however he’s 2-over by means of 12 holes on the South Course. The Swede fired a 9-under 63 on the North Course on Wednesday to take a seat atop the leaderboard by himself.
Match officers haven’t but introduced when play will resume.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By way of. Observe him on X @jack_milko.