Rain makes it a long Sunday at the Players

Reporting from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

The crowd of contenders for the PGA Tour’s richest title did little to separate themselves Saturday.

Then again, they didn’t have much time to do it.

Thunderstorms that brought damaging wind and small hail brought the Players Championship to a standstill for 4 1/2 hours, leaving the lead groups to cool their heels until nearly dinnertime and promising a long Sunday finish.

“I’m glad we got some holes in,” said Nick Watney, who shared the lead with U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell when darkness fell over TPC Sawgrass. “Obviously [Sunday] is going to be a long day, but hopefully we’ll have a chance at the end.”

Each of the top four on the leaderboard — Watney, McDowell, David Toms and Steve Stricker — left the course Saturday facing a 31-hole finale.

Play was scheduled to resume at 7:45 a.m., allowing everyone to complete play before the fourth round begins. Competitors will be grouped in threes, sent off both the No.1 and No.10 tees.

McDowell and Watney reached 11 under par before day’s end — McDowell with three birdies among his first five holes and Watney with two. Stricker and Toms each lurked one shot back, followed by K.J. Choi and Lucas Glover at nine under.

“The leaderboard is packed, and there’s a bunch of good players up there,” Watney said. “We’re still in the third round, so I just have to take care of what I can and give myself a chance on the back nine.”

If anything, the leaderboard got more crowded instead of thinning out. No fewer than 17 golfers ended the day within four strokes of the co-leaders — two more than were in that position to start the day.

Martin Kaymer, ranked No.2 in the world, moved to eight under with a four-birdie start. Choi birdied three of his first four as the rains produced softer conditions.

“This is probably one of the most exciting finishes in world golf,” McDowell said. “To have that many guys within striking distance, it’s going to be a lot of fun hopefully to be part of.”

Asked how he would prepare for Sunday’s marathon, McDowell said: “Just rest up — and obviously try to stay out of the bar.”

Play was halted at 1:02 p.m. when brewing storms began sending rumbles across the sky. The skies soon opened, bringing pelting rain and hail.

Though the storm also felled a tree along the 16th fairway, PGA Tour officials were pleased with the way the course responded. It was the first in-tournament test for the Stadium Course’s new drainage system since it was installed in a 2007 makeover.

“Unbelievable how it drained,” said Mark Russell, the PGA Tour’s competition chief. “It was amazing how the golf course held up. Once it stopped raining, the water was basically gone.”

As darkness closed in, such players as Phil Mickelson and Ian Poulter began running between holes in an attempt to avoid the early restart.

As Mickelson birdied No.17 and quickly jogged to the 18th tee, Poulter struck his tee shot at the island hole. Showing off his best track skills, the English pro ran to the green, quickly removed the flag and stroked two quick putts for par.

Grabbing his driver along the way, Poulter reached the 18th tee just as Mickelson and partner Martin Laird were walking off. They stopped to let Poulter strike his tee shot.

“If duty calls, you’ve got to get to 18, right?” said Poulter, who shot a 74. “That’s a 5:30 [a.m.] wakeup call. That’s four hours in bed. A little 300-yard sprint is well worth four hours in bed.”

jshain@orlandosentinel.com