GOLF PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP : Players Pour It On Course After Rain Suspends Play

Third-round play in the Players Championship Saturday at the Tournament Players Club in Sawgrass was suspended, then postponed because of persistent rain.

The morning rounds were completed, but the leaders were still on the course when rain halted play at 2:45 p.m. EST.

The weather forecast is for clearing skies today and the third round is expected to be resumed at 7:15 a.m., according to a tournament official.

Then, the final round will begin about 11:15 a.m. with threesomes going off tees at the first and 10th holes.

Jodie Mudd, who had an eagle on the par-five second hole, was seven under par for the tournament through four holes when rain stopped play.

Hale Irwin, the 36-hole leader at six under, was even par through three holes, with Rocco Mediate five under after three holes.

Three other players, Ken Green, Clark Burroughs and Mark Calcavecchia, were four under when play was stopped.

There has been considerable criticism of the greens by the players.

The main reason that the greens are in bad shape, bare in spots and bumpy, is that public play was allowed through Friday of last week.

The maintenance staff had only two days to prepare the surfaces before the pros arrived.

“Marriott Muni,” said John Mahaffey, a former TPC champion, who failed to make the cut. He was referring to the resort hotel on the property that controls many of the tee times.

Tim Simpson, who also missed the cut, blamed PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman for the course condition. “Deane wants to make this a great championship, but he runs it like a Publinx championship,” Simpson said.