KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — PGA officials are confident they’ll be able to finish the 94th PGA Championship today. The third-round will resume at 7:30 a.m. and players will be matched in threesomes for the fourth round beginning at 11:44 a.m.
“The forecast for [Sunday] is very positive,” said Kerry Haigh, the managing director of championships and business development for the PGA of America. “There is a chance of some lingering showers first thing in the morning, but following that, our weather people tell us we can expect a very good day with winds very slightly less than they have been. With that forecast, I think the plan we have should certainly allow us to finish on schedule at about [6:50] and hopefully bring to a conclusion what we think and already is a very dramatic and exciting 94th PGA Championship.”
Rain has fallen just about every day this week. Practice rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday were suspended by rain and more rain fell after tournament play ended on Thursday and Friday.
* What a difference a day makes. Jason Dufner, who lost a playoff to Keegan Bradley in last year’s PGA Championship, shot a 4-under par 68 yesterday after struggling to a 4-over par 76 on Friday. He stands 2-over par entering the final round.
“I putted well, which is nice,” Dufner said. “That’s kind of what you have to do on this golf course because you’re not going to hit a ton of shots close to the pin and you’re going to miss a lot of greens no matter what you do.”
* It didn’t take long for TNT commentator Ernie Johnson to notice a change in demeanor of the players during yesterday’s third round compared to Friday when they played in 30 mph wind gusts.
“We have seen more smile early in round three than we saw all day in round two,” Johnson said.
* Joost Luiten of The Netherlands was the only player who didn’t finish his second round on Friday when he opted not to tee off on the 18th hole. Instead, he waited until 7:30 yesterday morning to complete his second round, making a 22-foot for birdie. His 4-over-par 76 put him at even par after 36 holes.