Detroit — It wouldn’t be a Rocket Mortgage Classic without a little bout of bad weather.
Officials for the PGA Tour stop at Detroit Golf Club have moved tee times, and thus the fan entry times, for Saturday’s third round following heavy rain early Saturday morning. Tee times now are tentatively scheduled for between 11:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m., and they’ll be playing in threesomes, teeing off on both the first and 10th holes.
Co-leaders Akshay Bhatia and Aaron Rai, the halfway-point leaders at 13 under, now are scheduled to tee off the first hole at around 1:45 p.m., along with Taylor Montgomery, who was at 11 under. Troy Merritt, Erik van Rooyen and Cameron Young, all at 11 under, will tee off just before them, at around 1:34 p.m., off the first hole.
Fan favorite Rickie Fowler, at 6 under, will tee off around noon on the 10th hole, with Ryan Fox and Matt Kuchar.
All the tee times eventually will be updated HERE.
Tournament officials announced Saturday morning that the gates will not open until 11 a.m. Saturday, after saying Friday night that they would open at 10 a.m. The early morning rain was heavier than expected. The shuttles from Wayne State and Detroit Mercy will begin operating at 10:45 a.m. If play is suspended and the Detroit Golf Club grounds are evacuated, fans will be allowed to re-enter the grounds when play resumes.
If play is postponed at any point Saturday, fans with Saturday grounds ticket will be allowed to use those tickets for Sunday. Saturday hospitality ticket-holders can enter the grounds Sunday, but will only have grounds access because of space restrictions in the hospitality tents. In that event, parking for Sunday must be purchased.
Broadcast coverage for Saturday will be on Golf Channel from 1-3 p.m., CBS from 3-6 p.m., and then Golf Channel again from 6 till the end of play. ESPN+ will stream featured pairings and holes from 11:45 a.m. until the end of play.
tpaul@detroitnews.com
@tonypaul1984
