The leading contenders at Oakland Hills will have to negotiate 36 holes on the final day to become the 90th US PGA champion, after play was abandoned last night.

Championship officials suspended play for the day at 11.30pm Irish time, more than four hours after the first of many thunderstorms in the Detroit area brought a halt with only 25 of the 73-man field having completed their third rounds.

Halfway leader JB Holmes and the rest of the leading three pairings — Charlie Wi, Justin Rose, Ben Curtis, David Toms and Henrik Stenson — had not even started their rounds when play was finally called off.

Graeme McDowell had charged towards the top of the leaderboard at Oakland Hills before the rain brought a halt to the action.

McDowell, a two-time European Tour winner this year had started the day at six-over but birdies at the par-five second and the par-four sixth — which tournament officials shortened from 387 yards following the second round, measuring 285 yards to the front of the green and 318 yards to the hole closed the gap.

McDowell reached two-over for the week, having played 15 holes — four under for the day in a round that included an eagle three at the 12th.

When the rain came it was brief but torrential — and just as groundskeepers worked to clear surface water, the showers returned as dark skies remained more than two hours after the suspension was called.

Another wave of storms hit the Detroit area at 10pm.

The third round had got under way under mostly sunny skies.