Start of PGA Championship delayed due to frost at Oak Hill

Frost delayed the start of the 105th PGA Championship, the second major of the season, at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester.

A general view of the first hole during a frost delay prior to the first round of the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York. Picture: Michael Reaves/Getty Images.

Play had been due to get underway at 7am local time in New York State, but, as had been feared by the PGA of America, a cold morning put paid to that.

A post sent out just before 6am informed players and spectators that, due to the frosty conditions, the practice facilities and the golf course had been closed.

“To protect playing surfaces, everyone on-site must stay off any grass and gates will not open until the frost clears,” it added.

The practice facilities eventually opened at 7.35am, with the play then starting at 8.50am from the fist tee and 8.55am from the tenth tee, meaning a delay of one hour and 50 minutes.

The possibility of a delay had been predicted earlier in the week by Kerry Haigh, the PGA of America’s chief championships officer

It was always a possibility in the north-east of America at this time of the year, with the PGA Championship now being held in May as opposed to early August.

The delay meant that Bob MacIntyre, the sole Scot in the field, wasn’t scheduled to start his opening round until 2.48pm local time alongside Austrian Sepp Straka and American Harris English.