The PGA Tour shares the weather decisions behind the 2024 RBC Heritage
A delayed finish
PHOTOS BY ARNO DIMMLING
A weather delay shook up Sunday’s final round at last year’s RBC Heritage when play was suspended at 4:28 p.m. due to lightning in the area. Players were pulled from the course, and the delay stretched for 2 hours and 32 minutes before play resumed at 7 p.m. However, fading daylight soon became an issue, forcing officials to suspend play at 7:45 p.m. with nine players still on the course, setting the stage for a Monday finish that was closed to spectators.
A late-afternoon storm disrupted last year’s RBC Heritage, halting play on Sunday for more than two and a half hours and ultimately forcing a Monday finish — one that unfolded without spectators. The delay frustrated not only golf fans but also some of the world’s top players, who, after enduring a challenging two-week stretch that included the Masters followed by a Signature Event, found themselves spending an extra night in a hotel instead of heading home.
With nearly every weather forecast predicting the storm, why didn’t the PGA Tour adjust the final-round tee times in advance? To find out, we reached out to Gary Young, senior vice president of rules and competitions for the PGA Tour, for insight into the decision-making process.
[LOCAL Life] Are tee times locked in due to CBS’s TV contract, or does the PGA Tour or tournament officials have flexibility to adjust them based on weather forecasts? [Gary Young] Tee times are not “locked in” by contract with our broadcast partners. Tee-time decisions will always be made based on the goal of achieving 72 holes by end of the scheduled final day (normally Sunday).
[LL] What factors determine whether tee times can be adjusted due to weather concerns? [GY] The probability of inclement weather and its potential impact on the goal of achieving 72 holes has the greatest impact on adjusting the scheduled times.
[LL] Does the PGA Tour have a designated meteorologist or weather-advisory team, and how do they influence decision-making? [GY] The PGA Tour has a contracted meteorologist on-site from Monday to the end of each tournament. This team has worked with the PGA Tour for decades.
[LL] Was there any discussion last year about moving up the final-round tee times to finish before the storm? [GY] There was no discussion of moving up times for the final round in 2024 once we had the forecast from our on-site meteorologist. On Saturday afternoon we had a meeting, and his confidence level was low (approximately 50 percent at the time) to meet our threshold for a change in schedule. Normally, we would need a greater than 60 percent chance to begin those discussions.
[LL] How much input do tournament officials or others have in weather-related scheduling decisions, or is it entirely a PGA Tour decision? [GY] When those discussions are necessary, a meeting will take place between the PGA Tour chief referee in charge of the competition and the other key stakeholders. This would include RBC Heritage tournament officials, the sponsor and our broadcast partner. Ultimately the PGA Tour will make the final decision, with careful consideration of all the stakeholders’ interests being considered.
[LL] Are there any changes in place for 2025 to handle weather delays differently?
[GY] There are no changes planned for the 2025 event, and we will follow our normal protocols.
Xander Schauffele battles the elements in this photo from last year’s RBC Heritage. After overcoming a slow start with an opening-round 72, the PGA Tour star surged back into contention with impressive rounds of 64 and 67. However, Sunday’s soggy conditions proved challenging, as he closed with another 72, finishing in a tie for 18th place.
