Bad Weather Puts Brakes on Honda Classic; McIlroy to Miss Cut


Mother Nature played a big role Friday at the Honda Classic. Heavy rains caused two suspensions during the second round with play finally halted for good later due to darkness at the $6.1 million PGA Tour event, which started Thursday on Champion course at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

The first suspension happened early at 8:23 a.m. ET, with play resuming about two hours later. But after only about a half-hour, lightning came through the area to send the players back to the clubhouse.

The round re-started at 12:31 p.m., making the total stoppages to that point about four hours. Because of the various halts, roughly half the field wasn't able to finish. Those who didn't complete play will start over Saturday morning before the third round commences.

The tournament might continue to experience delays. Though temperatures over the weekend will be in the high 70s, more rain and lightning is forecast for Saturday, with intermittent showers predicted on Sunday.

At the end of the day, Brendan Steele sat atop the leaderboard at 8-under. But the 31-year-old Californian, who was 4-under through eight holes, still needs to go 10 more holes to make the round official.

Patrick Reed was one of the lucky ones; the 24-year-old Texan carded his second straight 3-under 67 and is in good shape at 6-under 134. Despite a double-bogey on his second hole, the par-4 11th, Reed rebounded with five birdies the rest of the way. The four-time Tour winner said of his stop-and-start round, "Managed to stay patient. I played well all day (and) made some putts down the stretch."

First-round leader Jim Herman, who opened with a 65, was at 5-under. But the 37-year-old is facing a long Saturday as he was only able to finish three holes, at even-par. Two Brits - Luke Donald and Ian Poulter - are at 4-under along with Irishman Padraig Harrington. Donald shot a 67 Friday, while Poulter (5-under through eight holes) and Harrington (1-under after six) will return early Saturday morning to finish up.

Because the 36-hole cut hasn't been established - the overnight projection is 4-over - it's uncertain who will advance to the final two rounds. But it's quite likely No. 1-ranked Rory McIlroy won't be among them. After opening with a 73, the 25-year-old Northern Irishman - making his 2015 debut in the U.S. - carded a 74.

Teeing off in the morning, McIlroy bogeyed his first hole - the 10th - and ninth (the par-5 18th) to make the turn in 37. His only birdie came on the par-3 fifth (his 14th hole) before coming home with bogeys on three of his final four holes for another 37.

The four-time winner last year - including two majors in the Open and PGA championships - who swept player-of-the-year honors on both the PGA and European tours, wasn't happy after not making the cut in his first American tournament since the 2012 U.S. Open.

"Yeah, I'm pissed off," said McIlroy, who has a residence in South Florida. "I don't like missing cuts. You want to be playing on the weekend, and I'm not there. Well, I'm here; I'm home. I'm not going to be playing this weekend - which is not nice."

McIlroy admitted he had a difficult time getting his vaunted game going. He hadn't played competitively in three weeks, although his last time out was a three-stroke victory at the Dubai Desert Classic. "I guess after coming off a three-week break, felt a little . . . I wouldn't say rusty, but just not quite on top of my game."

The Ulsterman won't face such a long layoff next; he will be back in action at next week's WGC- Cadillac Championship at Doral. "I felt like I was trying to get something going and couldn't. Coming off three weeks off and playing in conditions like these, it sort of shows you where your game's at. Just got to regroup and put some work in and get ready for Miami next week."

Defending champion Russell Henley is also in tough shape. The 25-year-old Georgian opened with a 72 and was 4-over through seven holes before play was stopped Friday.

For updated scoring, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.