Players Championship: Powerful storm wreaks havoc as golf tournament suffers further delays

By Jack Bantock, CNN

Updated 1141 GMT (1941 HKT) March 12, 2022

Assistant Superintendent, John Michael Clark, tends to water on a green at TPC Sawgrass on March 11, 2022 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

(CNN)The Players Championship is set for its latest finish in at least 17 years after a powerful storm delayed the PGA Tour event for a second successive day in Florida.

Play at Ponte Vedra Beach's TPC Sawgrass course has faced severe disruption since the tournament got underway on Thursday, with almost three inches of rainfall across 48 hours. Approaching what would typically be the tournament's penultimate day on Saturday, 47 players are yet to complete their first round.Florida is currently under tornado watch until 11 a.m. E.T Saturday — the earliest time the Tour said play will resume — with possibilities of tornadoes, winds of up to 70 mph, and heavy rain the key concerns, according to CNN weather's team.Justin Rose of England lines up a putt as caddie David Clark holds an umbrella.Flooding caused by additional rain could be particularly disruptive for grounds staff at The Players — nicknamed 'the fifth major' for its prestige — and looks set to extend the tournament to, at a minimum, its first Monday finish since 2005.Read More«Unfortunately, the weather conditions are not providing us any relief,» Chief Referee Gary Young said on Friday.«Our desire is to not have anyone on the property at that time,» added Young, referring to the projected severe weather system on Saturday. «We are into a Monday finish. We know that.»The rain and severe storm threat will have passed by midday Saturday, according to the CNN weather team, though temperatures will plummet and strong winds of up to 40 mph look set to prolong difficulties