ATLANTA — Moments after Scottie Scheffler smashed yet another tee shot down the middle of the 16th fairway, the worst sound in golf echoed across East Lake.
PGA Tour officials sounded the horn to warn of severe weather in the area, and then, just as Scheffler, playing partner Collin Morikawa, NBC Sports reporter Jim “Bones” MacKay and the PGA Tour radio crew were being transported off the course in a golf cart, a large bolt of lightning appeared just above the trees overlooking the 15th tee. With just 40 minutes left in the second round, the Tour's decision was correct.
Dark clouds were gathering, making Scheffler and Morikawa's back nine look ominous, and it seemed like it was just a matter of time before the horn sounded, but somehow the weather held out, and Scheffler and Morikawa managed to finish 15 holes, and 11 of the 15 pairs made it to the second round.
When the umpire stopped play, Scheffler was at 19 under par, four strokes ahead of Morikawa and Xander Schauffele, and he began the day seven strokes ahead, a PGA Tour “record,” despite the starting stroke rule.
But Scheffler created some opportunities in the final nine holes. After a birdie on the 10th hole, Scheffler's form slowed on the following holes, dropping a stroke on the 13th hole and missing a birdie on the easy par-5 14th hole. Meanwhile, Morikawa continued to play near-perfect golf, matching Scheffler's birdie on the 10th hole and then birdieing the 13th and 14th holes to move to 16 under. His chip-in from just off the green on the 13th hole drew a huge cheer from the crowd.
Nevertheless, PGA Tour Officials Announcement Play resumes at 6:50pm ET on Friday to wait for one final cell to pass – the sun sets at 8:04pm ET, so there's plenty of time to finish up play.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation Playing Through. Follow For more golf articles, follow us on Twitter Jack Mirko In the same way.
