Crazy photos of PGA Tour’s rain-delayed 2024 Cognizant Classic

The final round of the 2024 Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, was heavily delayed by inclement weather in the area, so much so that the first event of the Florida Swing will feature a Monday finish.

Play was suspended due to lightning in the area at 12:49 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon and the course quickly became unplayable after a downpour of rain flooded greens and fairways. The practice range was re-opened shortly after 3 p.m. ET as officials continued to gauge when players could return to action. There was a tornado warning for Palm Beach County Sunday afternoon, but not in the Palm Beach Gardens area.

Mother Nature was the only thing keeping Erik van Rooyen from making birdies in Sunday’s final round as the 34-year-old South African started his round with six consecutive birdies before adding two more on Nos. 8 and 10 to move into the lead at 14 under before play was stopped. Van Rooyen shot a tournament-record 7-under 28 on the front nine and was 8 under for the day in the 12th fairway when the horn blew to pause play.

The final round of the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches will resume at 4:20 p.m. ET.

Players yet to start will add 3 hours, 30 minutes to their original final-round starting time.

— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) March 3, 2024

The three players tied for the lead at 13 under – Shane Lowry, Austin Eckroat and David Skinns – were about 50 minutes away from starting the round when play was stopped. The last Monday finish at the Cognizant was in 2015, when Padraig Harrington beat Daniel Berger in a playoff. The delayed finish may also impact Monday’s star-studded Pro-Member at Seminole Golf Club in nearby Juno Beach, Florida.

Photos: Weather delays Cognizant Classic

Contributing: Craig Dolch, Palm Beach Post