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.
-
Arnold Palmer Invitational Field 2025One of the biggest events in the PGA Tour schedule sees many of the world’s best players tee it up at Bay Hill
-
Arnold Palmer Invitational Prize Money Payout 2025Many of the world's best players compete for one of the largest prize money payouts of the PGA Tour season
-
DP World Tour Pro Makes Two Holes-In-One In Same RoundDale Whitnell achieved the remarkable feat of making two holes-in-one during the same round at the South African Open on the DP World Tour
-
Investec South African Open Championship Prize Money Payout 2025One of the oldest golf tournaments in the world comes from Durban Country Club
-
'I've Never Seen That Before' - How One Particular Product Helped This Tour Pro To The Biggest Win Of His CareerJacques Kruyswijk claimed a two shot victory at the Magical Kenya Open, with the South African spotted using grip powder in the hot climate of Nairobi
-
Jacques Kruyswijk Wins Magical Kenya Open To Clinch First DP World Tour TitleSouth Africa's Jacques Kruyswijk won the Magical Kenya Open title at Muthaiga Golf Club by two strokes for his first DP World Tour title
-
Magical Kenya Open Prize Money Payout 2025Darius van Driel defends his Magical Kenya Open title as players compete at Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi
-
This Week’s DP World Tour Venue Costs Less Than A Dollar To Play For Juniors (And It's A Bargain For Adults, Too)Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi is home to the DP World Tour's Kenya Open, where green fees for both adults and juniors are surprisingly affordable
-
Why Australia Deserves To Have A Big Part In Golf's New Global FutureWith golf possibly looking at a more global schedule in the future, we look at why Australia simply has to be at the forefront of those plans
-
Haotong Li Clinches Dramatic Qatar Masters Victory With 72nd-Hole BirdieChina's Haotong Li sealed a sensational victory at the DP World Tour's Commercial Bank Qatar Masters with a birdie at the 72nd hole
