The worst has happened – third-round play at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans was abruptly halted at 2:15 p.m. due to lightning in the area. The suspension has left players and spectators alike anxiously waiting for the storm to pass. According to the latest update, play is set to resume at 3:45 p.m., with practice facilities reopening for players at 3:15 p.m.

At the time of the suspension, Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin were leading the tournament with a combined score of 22-under, just one shot ahead of six other teams tied at 21-under. A total of twenty teams were within three shots of the lead when the horn blew. Defending champions Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry were 20-under through 17 holes, with McIlroy lining up a 30-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole when play was suspended.

The forecast for the remainder of the event looks unsettled, with partly cloudy skies and isolated showers expected on both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, temperatures are expected to climb into the mid-80s, with light winds shifting to southeasterly in the afternoon. Sunday’s forecast predicts patchy fog in the morning, clearing up by 8-9 a.m., with partly cloudy skies and light winds turning southeasterly in the afternoon.

The sudden interruption has left players and spectators alike anxiously waiting for the storm to pass, wondering when they can get back to the action on the course to see if Novak and Griffin can hold on to their top spot and claim the prize money. And netizens are surely mad at the weather update and are not shy in expressing their disappointment.

Netizens are mad at the PGA Tour

Starting off strong with what one said, “You guys are such a f**king embarrassment lol”, while the other wrote, “Due to raindrops,” suggesting that the Tour took this action for nothing. One more fan share the same sentiment as they wrote, “Its rain.” Well, the same was the case at the 2025 Players Championship as well, where the final round was suspended due to lightning in the area at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Despite efforts to beat the incoming storms by pushing forward tee times, play was halted at 1:15 p.m. ET after rain and thunderclaps rolled in. The PGA Tour had anticipated storms between 3-5 p.m. and started play at 8 a.m. ET to avoid a Monday finish, which saw Rory McIlroy win the trophy.

Well, not only the Players Championship, the 2025 Masters also faced the same issue, as practice was suspended late Monday morning due to worsening rain and the threat of thunderstorms at Augusta National. Despite initial plans to close the course earlier, spectators were allowed on the grounds for about 3 1/2 hours, but were later pulled off for safety concerns. Few players, including Keegan Bradley and Matthieu Pavon, ventured out for solo practice rounds.

One fan said, “Hilarious”, while the other comment, “Looking at a lot of different radar and can’t see this delay lasting long.” The delays being short-lived was nothing new in golf, as weather predictions can be inaccurate. Delays in golf due to weather, especially during spring and summer, can occur from various factors like thunderstorms, heavy rain, and even fog, often significantly altering tournament schedules and fan experiences but when they are short-lived the tension among the fans is somewhat less.  So, do you think the same will happen this time as well? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!