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With Woods Leading, Rain and Wind Push Final Round to Monday With Woods Leading, Rain and Wind Push Final Round to Monday
(35 minutes later)
ORLANDO, Fla. — After Tiger Woods birdied the second hole to increase his lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational to three strokes, it seemed that only an act of nature could prevent him from winning his 77th PGA Tour title, and his record-tying eighth in a single tournament.ORLANDO, Fla. — After Tiger Woods birdied the second hole to increase his lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational to three strokes, it seemed that only an act of nature could prevent him from winning his 77th PGA Tour title, and his record-tying eighth in a single tournament.
As if on cue, as Woods and his playing partner, Rickie Fowler, were walking off the second green at Bay Hill Golf Club on Sunday, the horn sounded, signaling the suspension of play because of approaching bad weather. Within minutes, the sky opened. Nearly an inch and a half of rain fell in an hour. The wind picked up, the clubhouse lost power, and soon it was also raining tree branches. A few television cameras toppled from towers as sustained wind approaching 60 miles an hour was reported. At the international airport less than 20 miles away, a gust of 86 m.p.h. was recorded.As if on cue, as Woods and his playing partner, Rickie Fowler, were walking off the second green at Bay Hill Golf Club on Sunday, the horn sounded, signaling the suspension of play because of approaching bad weather. Within minutes, the sky opened. Nearly an inch and a half of rain fell in an hour. The wind picked up, the clubhouse lost power, and soon it was also raining tree branches. A few television cameras toppled from towers as sustained wind approaching 60 miles an hour was reported. At the international airport less than 20 miles away, a gust of 86 m.p.h. was recorded.
The area around the course was under a tornado warning, which figured. This year, the tour has had to suspend play because of high winds in Maui, fog in San Diego and snow outside Tucson. The worst of Sunday’s weather lasted roughly 90 minutes, but there was no way the tournament could finish by nightfall. Play was called for the day after a two-hour suspension. The fourth round will resume Monday morning.The area around the course was under a tornado warning, which figured. This year, the tour has had to suspend play because of high winds in Maui, fog in San Diego and snow outside Tucson. The worst of Sunday’s weather lasted roughly 90 minutes, but there was no way the tournament could finish by nightfall. Play was called for the day after a two-hour suspension. The fourth round will resume Monday morning.
With a victory, Woods would supplant Rory McIlroy as the world No. 1, a position he reached for the first time in June 1997.With a victory, Woods would supplant Rory McIlroy as the world No. 1, a position he reached for the first time in June 1997.
“At least we got a little activity in today, so we’re not completely stagnant,” said Woods, who won in a Monday finish in San Diego. “We had that fog delay in San Diego, and this is part of playing outside. We’ve got to deal with conditions like this.”“At least we got a little activity in today, so we’re not completely stagnant,” said Woods, who won in a Monday finish in San Diego. “We had that fog delay in San Diego, and this is part of playing outside. We’ve got to deal with conditions like this.”
Thirty-three players completed their rounds, including Bubba Watson, who posted the low score of the day, a five-under-par 67 for a 72-hole total of four-under 284. Sergio García followed his ball up a tree on the 10th hole, and made a one-handed shot that landed in the fairway, but he withdrew shortly afterward.Thirty-three players completed their rounds, including Bubba Watson, who posted the low score of the day, a five-under-par 67 for a 72-hole total of four-under 284. Sergio García followed his ball up a tree on the 10th hole, and made a one-handed shot that landed in the fairway, but he withdrew shortly afterward.
The forecast called for potentially heavy storms Sunday afternoon, but tournament organizers, after consulting with tour officials and their television partners, decided not to move up the start of play and send golfers off both the 1st and 10th tees in an attempt to finish before the bad weather was due to hit.The forecast called for potentially heavy storms Sunday afternoon, but tournament organizers, after consulting with tour officials and their television partners, decided not to move up the start of play and send golfers off both the 1st and 10th tees in an attempt to finish before the bad weather was due to hit.
“We just got unlucky with the weather,” said Mark Russell, the tour vice president for rules and competitions. “That microburst on the radar was about the size of a pinhead, but it hit us directly.”“We just got unlucky with the weather,” said Mark Russell, the tour vice president for rules and competitions. “That microburst on the radar was about the size of a pinhead, but it hit us directly.”
He added: “If we played early, it was going to be a tape-delay situation. People were going to know who won before it came on television, so it defeats our television partners. They wanted to take a chance. “He added: “If we played early, it was going to be a tape-delay situation. People were going to know who won before it came on television, so it defeats our television partners. They wanted to take a chance. “
Some might suggest there was already little doubt about the outcome. Woods, the defending champion, began the day with a two-stroke lead. He has lost only twice on tour when holding the outright 54-hole lead. He is seeking an eighth tournament title here, which would equal the tour record held by Sam Snead at the Greater Greensboro Open. Snead, whose 82 career victories the 37-year-old Woods is also stalking, won the Greensboro event in 1938, 1946, 1949, 1950, 1955, 1956, 1960 and 1965.Some might suggest there was already little doubt about the outcome. Woods, the defending champion, began the day with a two-stroke lead. He has lost only twice on tour when holding the outright 54-hole lead. He is seeking an eighth tournament title here, which would equal the tour record held by Sam Snead at the Greater Greensboro Open. Snead, whose 82 career victories the 37-year-old Woods is also stalking, won the Greensboro event in 1938, 1946, 1949, 1950, 1955, 1956, 1960 and 1965.
Keegan Bradley, who at the urging of his good friend Michael Jordan has been trying to attack the course the way Jordan did the basket, had moved into a tie for second with Fowler, Ken Duke and John Huh after playing the first four holes in two under. Keegan Bradley, who at the urging of a good friend, Michael Jordan, has been trying to attack the course the way Jordan did the basket, had moved into a tie for second with Fowler, Ken Duke and John Huh after playing the first four holes in two under.
Fowler, a one-time tour winner, had a birdie putt on the second hole and missed it. Fowler is ensconced with Watson and his wife at their nearby home, which they bought from Woods.Fowler, a one-time tour winner, had a birdie putt on the second hole and missed it. Fowler is ensconced with Watson and his wife at their nearby home, which they bought from Woods.
If Fowler spent any time brooding about the missed birdie opportunity before the rain came, it would surprise Watson.  If Fowler spent any time brooding about the missed birdie opportunity before the rain came, it would surprise Watson.  
“One of his gifts is he forgets,” Watson said. “To be a good golfer, you have to be able to forget the bad shots, and that’s what Rickie does.”“One of his gifts is he forgets,” Watson said. “To be a good golfer, you have to be able to forget the bad shots, and that’s what Rickie does.”