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.
-
Transgender Golfer Hailey Davidson Banned From LPGA After Gender Policy UpdateThe LPGA has updated a key policy meaning that from the 2025 season, athletes who transitioned following puberty will not be allowed to play in its competitions
-
PuttOut Medium Putting Mat ReviewSam De’Ath discusses how the PuttOut Medium putting mat can help you hole more putts
-
Nedbank Golf Challenge Prize Money Payout 2024Some of the best players in the world head to South Africa for one of the biggest events on the DP World Tour season, where an eye-catching payout is available
-
Ryggs Johnston Caps Off Extraordinary Few Weeks By Winning Australian Open In Second-Ever DP World Tour StartThe American rookie triumphed by three strokes at Kingston Heath Golf Club to land his first pro title and qualify for The Open at Royal Portrush next year
-
Smith Blames Protege Smylie As 'Common Denominator' In Latest Slow Play WarningCameron Smith saw his second round crumble at the Australian Open after being put on the clock - which he appeared to partially blame on his young protege Elvis Smylie
-
Could LIV Golf And DP World Tour Do Their Own Deal?A report from Bloomberg suggests LIV Golf is weighing up doing a separate deal with the DP World Tour to help both coexist together
-
Jon Rahm To Make Dubai Desert Classic Debut In 2025Jon Rahm will make his first appearance in the Dubai Desert Classic in January to kick-off his Ryder Cup campaign on the DP World Tour
-
11 Big Name Golfers To Win The Australian OpenThe Australian Open is one of the oldest and most prestigious tournaments in the game, and some legends have won it through the years - here are 11 of them
-
'That's A Bull**** Excuse' - Cameron Smith Sounds Off Over 'Disappointing' Course Conditions At Australian OpenThe LIV player aired his frustration over soft and slow conditions at both Kingston Heath and Victoria Golf Club and refused to accept recent heavy rain was primarily responsible
-
ISPS Handa Australian Open Prize Money Payout 2024The event sees some of the best men and women golfers in the world compete for a share of an eye-catching purse
