The Australian PGA Championship has been cut to 54 holes after torrential rain forced the entire second round on Friday to be abandoned.
A continued downpour at Royal Queensland made the course unplayable and after the start of the second round was delayed it was eventually abandoned at 11:30am local time without a ball being struck.
Rain has been a constant issue of late with around 250mm falling in the Brisbane area in the last week, and the continued showers on top of already saturated turf led to standing water all around the course.
After deeming conditions unplayable on Friday, the decision was then taken to cut the event down to 54 holes, with the second round to be played on Saturday and the final round of the shortened event on Sunday.
“Continued downpours throughout the morning have left a number of fairways at Royal Queensland Golf Club saturated and the course has been deemed unplayable today," DP World Tour tournament director Jose Maria Zamora said in a statement.
"We plan to start the second round of the BMW Australian PGA Championship at 06:00 on Saturday, with the third and final round on Sunday."
With the ISPA HANDA Australian Open taking place next week over two courses, stretching the Australian PGA into a Monday finish was not logistically possible.
“We want to ensure we are able to bring this incredible tournament to the planned conclusion on Sunday," added Zamora. "Mindful of the logistics of playing next week’s ISPS HANDA Australian Open over two courses.”
Elvis Smylie leads by one at the Australian PGA Championship
It all means that local golfer Elvis Smylie remains in the one-shot lead he opened up in Thursday's first round.
The Gold Coast native carded eight birdies against two bogeys in his six-under round of 65 to sit one ahead of four players who shot 66.
Switzerland's Joel Girrbach, Australian Matias Sanchez and Chile's Cristobal Del Solar all shot five under alongside Victor Perez - a three-time winner on the DP World Tour.
Five Australians are in a group of eight players just a shot further back on four under, just two off the lead, including three big guns Jason Day, Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman.
It'll now be a bit more of a sprint finish for the title over the weekend with just 36 holes left to play to crown the 2024 Australian PGA champion.
-
'One Of The Great Things About Golf Is I Can Go Out With A Guy Who Is Going To Shoot 90 And I Can Give Him Enough Strokes To Where We'll Have A Good Competition' - Scottie Scheffler On Losing To 10-Handicap FriendScottie Scheffler insists "one of the great things about golf" is the handicap system, even if it did cost him money and an embarrassing loss to a 10 handicapper
-
Chris Gotterup Facts: 10 Things To Know About The PGA Tour ProChris Gotterup is one of the PGA Tour's rising stars - here are 10 things to know about him
-
Laurie Canter Set To Become First Former LIV Golfer To Make PGA Tour StartThe English pro - who spent a couple of seasons with the PIF-backed circuit - climbed into world's top-50 after another good result on the DP World Tour
-
Joburg Open Prize Money Payout 2025The DP World Tour remains in South Africa for the second week as the International Swing section of the season draws to a close
-
'It Felt Like I Was Tiger Woods' - Dylan Naidoo Thanks Home Fans After Sealing Rain-Affected South African Open Championship Playoff SuccessSouth Africa's Dylan Naidoo won the South African Open Championship in a playoff against Laurie Canter after the final round was cancelled due to a flooded Durban CC
-
DP World Tour Pro Makes Two Holes-In-One In Same RoundDale Whitnell achieved the remarkable feat of making two holes-in-one during the same round at the South African Open on the DP World Tour
-
Investec South African Open Championship Prize Money Payout 2025One of the oldest golf tournaments in the world comes from Durban Country Club
-
'I've Never Seen That Before' - How One Particular Product Helped This Tour Pro To The Biggest Win Of His CareerJacques Kruyswijk claimed a two shot victory at the Magical Kenya Open, with the South African spotted using grip powder in the hot climate of Nairobi
-
Jacques Kruyswijk Wins Magical Kenya Open To Clinch First DP World Tour TitleSouth Africa's Jacques Kruyswijk won the Magical Kenya Open title at Muthaiga Golf Club by two strokes for his first DP World Tour title
-
Magical Kenya Open Prize Money Payout 2025Darius van Driel defends his Magical Kenya Open title as players compete at Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi
