PGA Tour suspends Tour Championship play due to lightning; Scottie Scheffler leads by 4

A leaderboard indicates play is suspended due to lightning. | Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images

Lightning and thunder rumbled all around East Lake on Friday afternoon, forcing the PGA Tour to suspend play at East Lake.

ATLANTA — Immediately after Scottie Scheffler blistered another tee shot down the middle of the 16th fairway, the worst sound in golf infiltrated East Lake.

PGA Tour officials blew the horns as severe weather entered the area. Then, moments after golf carts shuttled Scheffler, playing partner Collin Morikawa, NBC Sports reporter Jim “Bones” MacKay, and the PGA Tour radio crew off the course, a big flash of lightning appeared just over the tree line that overlooks the 15th tee. The tour made the right call, even though only 40 minutes of play remained in the second round.

Dark clouds made Scheffler’s and Morikawa’s back nine look rather ominous, as it seemed like it would be only a matter of time before the horn sounded. But somehow, the weather kept at bay. Scheffler and Morikawa managed to get through 15 holes, while 11 of the 15 pairings finished their second rounds.

When officials suspended play, Scheffler held a four-shot advantage over Morikawa and Xander Schauffele at 19-under par. He began the day with a seven-shot lead, a PGA Tour “record,” despite the starting-strokes format.

But Scheffler opened the door a little bit on the back nine. After birdieing the 10th hole, Scheffler teetered on the ensuing holes, dropping a shot at 13 while failing to make birdie on the easy par-5 14th. Morikawa, meanwhile, continued to play near-flawless golf. He matched Scheffler’s birdie at 10 and then poured in a pair of birdies at the 13th and 14th holes to leap up to 16-under. He chipped in from just off the green at 13, which ignited a big roar from the crowd.

Nevertheless, PGA Tour officials announced they will resume play at 6:50 p.m. ET on Friday as they await one last cell to pass. The sun sets at 8:04 p.m. ET, which should be enough time for play to finish.

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.