ORLANDO, Fla. - Tiger Woods looked ready for a return to the top of the golf world Sunday. The fickle weather of Central Florida had other ideas.
A powerful thunderstorm ripped through Bay Hill, halting the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational and delaying it until this morning after Woods had completed only two holes.
When play resumes, scheduled to at 9 a.m., Woods will be on the third tee with a three-shot lead over several players. If he can hold onto that lead for the final 16 holes, he’ll rise to No. 1 in the world golf rankings for the first time since October 2010.
“At least we got a little activity in today,” Woods said, “so we’re not completely stagnant.”
There wasn’t much golf played, but it certainly was an eventful and strange day.
With the skies darkening, Woods made birdie at No. 2 to get to 12-under for the tournament. But moments later, lightning flashed across the sky. Thousands of fans following Woods groaned when the horn sounded at 2:03 p.m., suspending play.
Within minutes, a storm packing winds of more than 60 mph was battering the course and knocking out power. Players and media retreated to the safety of a dark clubhouse.
Sports, Pages 15 on 03/25/2013