BETHESDA, Md -- After a hurricane-like weather system ripped through the Washington, D.C., metro area on Friday night, third-round play at the AT&T National has been delayed until 1:00 p.m. Eastern time.
During the day, triple-digit temperatures bore down on Congressional CC. Around 10:00 p.m., a fierce storm rolled in, bringing with it winds in excess of 80 mph and heavy rains. The storm forced down whole trees and large limbs, including 40 at the host club. A 75-foot tree fell in the fairway at the par-4 14th, among others.
Crews have been working to clean up the golf course since the storm ended overnight, removing debris, limbs and the trees. Their first task was to cut up and remove a tree that fell before the entrance gate to the club.
As a safety precaution, however, the tournament announced no spectators or tournament volunteers would be allowed onto the grounds on Saturday. The players, who were originally set to go off in pairs from the first tee, will now begin in groups of three off the first and 10th tees.
Temperatures are expected to reach near 100 degrees for the second consecutive day. The discomfort will increase with the further heightened humidity drawn from last night's downpour. With more than 1 million people in the D.C. region without power, the bulk of the are will not be able to escape the heat.
CBS and Golf Channel will still air the third round of the tournament.
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