Sam Burns hangs on to the lead on windy day at Genesis Invitational

While everyone held on to their hats on a gusty Saturday at Riviera, Sam Burns held on to his lead.

Through 13 holes, Burns had a two-stroke edge on the field at 10 under par in the uncompleted third round of the Genesis Invitational when play was called for darkness at 5:43 p.m.

The tournament was suspended for nearly four hours earlier in the day when wind whipped across the course, swaying trees and causing unstruck golf balls to roll across the greens.

“I was on the chipping green hitting chips and balls were coming off the green,” said Burns, 24, who is seeking his first PGA Tour victory and began the day with a five-shot lead at 12 under. “I was like, if it continues to be like this, eventually there’s going to be a halt of play. So I don’t know, just trying to kind of go with the flow.”

Sports

No lie, he’s played by the rules on the PGA Tour for 40 years

For more than four decades, Mark Russell has been the go-to guy on the PGA Tour for interpreting the rules.

Feb. 20, 2021

Tournament director Steve Rintoul said event organizers were anticipating winds of 10 to 15 mph but adjusted their thinking when the gusts reached 35 mph.

“We had a piece of communications equipment fall down very close to some players on the 14th tee,” Rintoul said, “which really makes us as a committee step back and say maybe we need to go ahead and suspend now because it gets really more dangerous out there, and that was ultimately the decision.”

Twenty-three players had not finished the third round when play was suspended.

Sports

Michael Yamaki is unofficial mayor of Riviera Country Club who kept paradise on course

Over three decades, the versatile Michael Yamaki has kept Riviera Country Club’s golfing paradise on course.

Feb. 19, 2021

The third round will restart at 6:50 a.m. Sunday, with the final round to follow with approximate Round 4 tee times from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Matthew Fitzpatrick, who has one hole to go in the third round, is alone in second at eight under. Tied at seven under are Dustin Johnson, Max Homa and Wyndham Clark.

Jordan Spieth birdied three of his first six holes to get to nine under, then collapsed with bogeys on five of the next nine holes. He has three holes remaining in the third round and is six shots behind Burns.