Storm warning delays play at US PGA

On the course where a golf fan was killed by lightning during the 1991 United States Open, play was suspended after less than…

On the course where a golf fan was killed by lightning during the 1991 United States Open, play was suspended after less than 90 minutes of the US PGA championship in Minnesota today.

Only 18 of the 52 groups had teed off before the hooter sounded to pull the players off the course and nearly 2 1/2 hours play was lost before play was able to resume (at 5.25 p.m. Irish time), meaning the first round is highly unlikely to be completed today.

Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, paired together after their victories in the first three majors of the season, had just hit one shot each when the sirens sounded at Hazeltine National, the scene of Tony Jacklin's 1970 US Open victory.

Both looked surprised because it had not even started raining at that stage, but dark clouds were just behind them and clearly, with the memory of 11 years ago, no chances were being taken by officials.

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All the players were brought back to the clubhouse and were there by the time the storm duly arrived, while spectators were busy trying to find their own shelter.

Colin Montgomerie, Sergio Garcia, Ian Woosnam and Paul Lawrie were also among those forced to call a halt to their starts while none of the Irish contingent had taken to the course.

The early leaders of the 84th PGA Championship were Australian Carl Perks, Fuzzy Zoeller, Lee Janzen and Jerry Kelly. All four were one-under.

Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke have yet to get their challenges underway.