Delays and suspensions in golf tournaments due to bad weather are always a nuisance. Even more so when you are just hours away from competing in one of the most important weeks of the year. The Valero Texas Open has become complicated. Or rather, rain and lightning storms have turned the tournament ahead of the Masters de Augusta on the PGA Tour upside down. The third round has been far from complete, although they still hope that this Sunday it will be possible to play what remains of the moving day plus the final round. It doesn’t look good. A possible finish on Monday is knocking on the door. The PGA Tour never has trouble finishing on Monday if there’s no other choice, but of course this week is different. Will they dare?
How much is left to play? A lot. Robert MacIntyre (-15), the tournament leader, has barely been able to play a third of his round. That is, he still has at least three hours of play left. If we’re optimistic. Taking into account that play will resume, if the weather allows, at 8:45, US Eastern time, it means the second round will not be completed until noon. After that they have to go back out for the fourth round. If there are no setbacks it could be done, but as soon as another suspension occurs or a playoff runs longer than expected, there will be no way. Pairings will be kept the same from the third to the fourth round to save time. We will see what Mother Nature decides and how far they are willing to play on Monday with the Masters looming
As for the tournament, the pre-rain show belonged to Matt Wallace (-11). The Englishman was seven under through 14 holes and has created an opportunity to win the tournament and get into the Masters. He is not exempt. Right now, Wallace is crossing his fingers that four days are played, as he would have more chances. He has moved into third
In second place, giving MacIntyre more than just a fight, is the Swede Ludvig Aberg (-13). He got off to a very good start. He made three under in six holes and cut the gap to his Ryder Cup team‑mate by two shots. They went from four shots to two. They were three textbook birdies, leaving the shots very close. MacIntyre only made one birdie, but it was very important. It came at the 5th hole with a four‑metre putt, right in the middle of Aberg’s charge
European golf continues to dominate in the most American state of the United States. In third place, tied with Wallace, is the Japanese Ryo Hisatsune (-11), but in fifth position, at -10, is the Englishman Marco Penge (-10), who was also playing a great six‑under through 14 holes. Tied with Penge are the leading Americans: Michael Kim, Tony Finau, Chris Kirk and Chadler Philips. Of all of them, only Kim is exempt for the Masters
