There is arguably no other professional sport out there that is affected by the weather more than golf. Of course, four days of sunshine is ideal, but in no way is guaranteed.
From lightning to wind, to even snow, in honor of National Weather Observers Day, here are 10 crazy weather events we’ve seen on the pro tours.
Snow postpones 2013 WGC-Accenture Match Play – Dove Mountain
We get this list started with by far one of the rarest weather occurrences maybe ever on the PGA Tour. As we all know, the Tour tends to play events in warm climates that most people would consider to be “golf weather.” However, during the 2013 WGC-Accenture Match Play at Dove Mountain, the world’s best were greeted with freezing temperatures and – wait for it – snow!
The full-day blizzard blanketed the course well into the evening hours and obviously postponed play. They had to wait until next day for the sun to melt the snow and resume the matches. It is no surprise the event has since been moved to a different location.
2011 WGC-Cadillac Championship – Doral Blue Monster
Mother Nature can be cruel sometimes. She made her presence felt at the 2011 WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral. The rain and wind blew so hard it took down some of the structures built for the event, including the tower in which this camera was perched up on.
2010 Zurich Classic – TPC Louisiana
Lightning on the golf course is can be scary, especially when something like this happens. A giant bolt touched down during the 2010 Zurich Classic absolutely obliterating a tree. Thankfully, nobody was hurt.
2017 Web.com Season Opener – Bahamas Great Exuma Classic
Hats off to you, Ken Looper. pic.twitter.com/syhmAZc87b
— Web.com Tour (@WebDotComTour) January 8, 2017
Strong winds wreaked havoc during the season opener on the Web.com Tour. Blowing in excess of 40 mph consistently with even stronger gusts made scores balloon well into the 80s, with some even reaching into the 90s. Here Ken Looper gets his hat ripped off by a gust, but still somehow manages to convert the putt.
2000 Chevron World Challenge – Hail Phil!
This is footage from the 2000 Chevron World Challenge contested at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale Arizona. A hail storm suddenly engulfed the golf course, however, Mother Nature is going to have to throw a lot more than that to stop Phil’s short game.
2013 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard
Play was suspended 2013 Arnold Palmer Invitational due to this quick monsoon that rolled through Bay Hill. The majority of the field had to come back Monday to finish the tournament. Some of the players took issue due to the fact the Tour didn’t move up the tee times even though they knew the ominous forecast.
2017 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am – Fog
During the second round of the 2017 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, fog played a major factor, especially for the early tee times. While it isn’t unusual to have fog on the Monterey Peninsula, trying to play golf in it like Jon Rahm and Andrew Loupe did is borderline impossible when visibility is literally zero percent.
2013 Hyundai Tournament of Champions
This video sums up the 2013 Hyundai Tournament of Champions. Wind plagued the Kapalua Plantation course forcing the tournament to start on Monday. To make it an official 54-hole event, they played 36 and then came back on Tuesday for 18 more. Dustin Johnson won it with a total of -16.
2009 Viking Classic – Cancelled
The 2009 Viking Classic was canceled due to unplayable conditions after rains soaked the area essentially bringing the water table up to the surface. Have to point out the local news broadcast confusing David Duval with David Toms in the graphic!
2002 British Open at Muirfield
The Open Championship is notorious for its poor weather, but arguably the worst came during the third round at Muirfield in 2002. An unexpected storm blew in off the North Sea and brought with it horizontal rain and gale force winds. Tiger Woods was gunning for the third leg of the grand slam, but his hopes were washed away when he carded an 81.
