When the leader, Taylor Pendrith (-10), was about to hit his second shot on the par four of the 7th hole, with his ball about 80 metres from the flag, the second round of the Shriners Children’s Open had to be suspended due to lack of light. A situation caused by the strong winds that battered the city of Las Vegas and its surroundings from early Friday morning, forcing the start of play to be delayed by more than four hours.
The first day of competition in this fourth tournament of the autumn PGA Tour schedule also couldn’t be completed due to lack of visibility as night fell over TPC Summerlin. It was scheduled that the matches with some holes remaining would be completed yesterday before starting the second round. However, an initial two-hour delay due to adverse weather conditions was followed by another two-hour delay, leaving a good part of the matches unfinished.
There was a 52.8-yard difference in average driving distance on hole No. 9 between rounds one and two 😳
Round 1 – 328
Round 2 – 275.2The wind was no joke. pic.twitter.com/28G20tWgSX
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 19, 2024
Among them, the Canadian leading the standings, who finished level par for the only six holes he could play on Friday. The Puerto Rican Rico Hoey (-9), who was two under for the day, was the closest to Pendrith before the siren sounded, ending a complicated day in Las Vegas where, for the safety of staff and the public, the gates to the course were closed with access only for those strictly necessary for play.
A very long Saturday is therefore expected at this Shriners, which will resume the many matches yet to be completed from the second round early (from 7.15 local time if weather conditions permit) before starting the third round. The provisional cut is set at two under par and up to 14 players are chasing the leader in the standings within a margin of just three shots. Much still ahead in the city of sin… if the wind allows.
