The BMW PGA Championship will resume on Saturday and be contested over 54 holes, the DP World Tour has confirmed.
The tournament was suspended on Thursday evening after news of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's death was announced by Buckingham Palace, with almost all 144 players having completed 18 holes.
As a mark of respect, the flag on the Wentworth clubhouse has been lowered to half mast and both the course and its practice facilities are to remain closed today. The tour and a host of players have also paid tribute to the 96-year-old.
Official guidelines for sporting fixtures read that there was "no obligation to cancel or postpone events" during the National Mourning Period, adding that the final decision was "at the discretion of individual organisations".
The DP World Tour has therefore decided its flagship event will get back underway at 6.40am on Saturday. Original tee times for round two will remain the same, while the 30 players yet to complete their opening rounds will do so from 7.30am. The third and final round will be contested on Sunday.
Statement from the DP World Tour on the BMW PGA Championship.September 9, 2022
"The decision to restart on Saturday has been taken in accordance with Official National Mourning guidance and in consultation with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)," the statement reads.
"The second round of the BMW PGA Championship will resume at 6.40am on Saturday morning and all original second round tee times will remain the same. Those players who are yet to complete their first round will do so from 7.30am onwards from the place on the golf course where they stopped on Thursday afternoon.
"The Rolex Series event will now be contested over 54 holes with the intention to finish on Sunday as scheduled. It is not possible to play the full 72 holes and finish on Monday as we cannot guarantee the staff, facilities or security of the venue on Monday due to the on-going plans for the state funeral."
Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland and Andy Sullivan lead on eight-under-par as it stands, with Rory McIlroy four shots back after an opening four-under 68.
While the golf will go ahead this weekend, all major UK football fixtures have been postponed, including any Monday night matches.
-
All-Century Golf Bag: Which 14 Clubs From 2000-2024 Make The Cut?Fergus Bisset considers popularity, reviews, innovation and his own opinion to select an all-century bag, driver to putter. Do you agree with his selections?
-
You Can Now Buy TAG Heuer Golf Watches At PGA TOUR Superstore, And Boy Do I Want One!TAG Heuer golf watches are as premium as it gets in the golf space, and I cannot stress enough how much I want one...
-
'It Was Really About Us Taking This Into Our Own Hands' - McIlroy On How PGA Tour-LIV Golf Showdown Came To FruitionRory McIlroy says the players organized the PGA Tour-LIV Golf Showdown match themselves to show fans they're trying to bring the sport back together
-
‘To Say That McIlroy’s Season Was Not A Success Is Wide Of The Mark’To say it's been a dramatic 2024 for Rory McIlroy is a bit of an understatement, with the four-time Major winner going through multiple highs and lows this year
-
From 'Unfinished Business' To A Favourite Course - Why Rory McIlroy Fancies His Major Chances In 2025Rory McIlroy is confident he can finally end his Major drought in 2025, with a couple of venues giving him extra hope of adding a fifth to his name
-
Rory McIlroy Details 'The Ones I've Let Get Away' & Life In The Limelight In New DocumentaryRory McIlroy opens up about his big near miss at the US Open and just what it's like being in the spotlight in a new TV documentary
-
PGA Tour Reveals Player Of The Year And Rookie Of The Year NominationsOverall, seven players are in line for either the Jack Nicklaus Award or the Arnold Palmer Award, with the winners due to be revealed by the end of the year
-
Rory McIlroy Posts Heartfelt Message To 'Hero' And 'Inspiration' Rafa Nadal Following Tennis Icon's RetirementThe Spanish tennis player has left the game after 22 Grand Slam victories - and four-time Major winner McIlroy joined in with the messages of congratulations
-
Rory McIlroy Proves Fierce Loyalty To Caddie With Heartfelt Message In Race To Dubai Victory SpeechAddressing Harry Diamond after winning the Race To Dubai, McIlroy thanked his best friend and called any stick he had received this year "unwarranted"
-
Tearful Rory McIlroy Reacts To Seve Ballesteros Comparisons After Equalling Spaniard's Order Of Merit RecordIn a highly-emotional interview immediately after holing the winning putt at the DP World Tour Championship, McIlroy was asked about equalling Severiano Ballesteros' European Tour Order of Merit record
