Weather conditions have impacted the first round of The Genesis Invitational at The Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. Heavy rain forced a suspension of play on Thursday morning, with the round set to resume at 1 p.m. local time.
Weather Disruptions at The Genesis Invitational
The inclement weather began shortly after play commenced, with a significant band of rain affecting the course. Players managed to continue for over an hour, but by 10:13 a.m. local time, the situation worsened, leading officials to suspend the game.
PGA TOUR Response
Orlando Pope, the senior director of TV Rules and Video Analyst with the PGA TOUR, noted the conditions were untenable. “It was just too much water on the greens. We’re losing greens left and right,” he stated. Maintenance crews attempted to mitigate the water damage by using squeegees on several greens.
Forecast Details
The forecast indicated that the heaviest rainfall was expected between 10 a.m. and noon, with total rainfall projected to reach approximately half an inch. Winds were also projected to increase significantly after noon, with gusts potentially reaching 34 mph. Morning temperatures were in the 40s but were expected to rise to the mid-50s later in the day.
Current Standings
As play was suspended, Akshay Bhatia was performing notably well, standing at 3-under par through six holes. Players and fans alike are looking forward to the resumption of the tournament as conditions improve.
