Lingering frost causes another delay for WM Phoenix Open; Round 1 resumes

SCOTTSDALE, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) — Play went on at the WM Phoenix Open on Thursday but lingering frost caused another delay, this time for 90 minutes early Friday morning as visitors battled bone-chilling temperatures as the tournament continues.

After play was suspended just after 12:30 p.m. on Thursday due to “unplayable conditions,” the PGA announced in the late afternoon Round 1 will continue at 4 p.m. A little more than half the players already teed off, with Sahith Theegala making it through 14 holes and sitting atop the leaderboard at 5 under. Fifteen golfers finished the course before the putting greens turned into ponds. Then on Friday, the PGA announced a 90-minute delay due to lingering frost as temperatures in the Arizona desert reached near-freezing in the overnight hours.

Fans still showed up to see the start of the “People’s Open.” They had umbrellas and ponchos and saw dozens of players tee off. “We thought it was gonna rain off and on, about 1 and 3. We didn’t think it would come down like this,” said Mason and Alexis, a couple from Glendale. A caravan of SUVs shuttled players off the course. Sixty golfers still haven’t hit the greens, including big names like Scottie Scheffler and Hideki Matsuyama.

It’s the third straight day of weather problems at the WM Phoenix Open. Rain on Wednesday forced the cancellation of the Pro-Am game.

Winter weather is also impacting other parts of the state, including northern Arizona, where a new round of snow led to closures along Interstate 40 and other highways.

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